Our reassurance regarding proposed VAT changes

The situation to date: A key 2024 manifesto policy of the Labour Party is the application of VAT on private school fees. At The Peterborough School, our Senior Leadership Team has continued to monitor developments during the run-up to the General Election, and will do so as a new Government begins its term.

We have been consulting and planning for some time in order to manage this potential change as cost-effectively as possible. As of yet though, precise plans on how VAT might be applied have not been revealed, and there is no precise timescale for when this might happen.

Our strong position: We believe we have put ourselves in a strong position, both financially and strategically, to react to any changes and to try and minimise as much as possible any economic impacts for our current and future parents.

• We continue to invest in all aspects of our School; including infrastructure, and developing our academic and pastoral provision. This year we have expanded the Nursery and completely refurbished our Reception classroom. The new space looks amazing and has helped our Reception children to thrive in an engaging and welcoming environment. More exciting plans are in place for the next academic year including continued investment in the Prep School and the installation of new all-weather tennis and netball courts with floodlighting.
• The Peterborough School has a group of committed, experienced people on both the Senior Leadership Team and on the Board of Governors. This expertise enables us to ensure that any potential changes are managed with determination, rigour and clarity, and always with the very best outcomes for our pupils at the forefront of our thinking.
• While we are proudly a medium sized school, we benefit from being part of a national group of schools, the Woodard Corporation, which is seen as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of education. We benefit from strength in numbers through the sharing of best practice, which provides strength and expertise across all aspects of school life.

Our next steps:

We will keep current and prospective families fully informed regarding our next steps following the election. However, we will only be able to do so once full details of the policy are available to us.

We are, and will continue, to work closely with and receive guidance from various independent school associations and sector specialists. As soon as we know and understand the scope and timings of any changes, we will update this information.