Surrey County Council has admitted it doesn’t have sufficient state faculty locations to accommodate youngsters transferring from non-public colleges, following the federal government’s introduction of a 20 per cent VAT levy on impartial training.
Forecasts obtained by a Freedom of Info request present that for the September 2025 consumption, there are anticipated to be no vacancies accessible for 12 months 9, 10, or 11 college students, and solely restricted areas in youthful 12 months teams. The shortfall comes regardless of estimates suggesting that round 2,400 youngsters in Surrey will probably be compelled to change from fee-paying colleges on account of the VAT cost, which takes impact subsequent month.
Surrey’s predicament highlights the regional imbalance in how the tax change might have an effect on faculty capability. Whereas the federal government claims there may be enough space within the nationwide state faculty system, it has not accounted for the uneven distribution of personal faculty enrolment. In Surrey, practically one in 5 pupils attend impartial establishments—considerably greater than the nationwide common of 6 per cent.
A involved father who requested anonymity instructed The Telegraph: “No council is equipped for mass mid-year school entrance with no capacity planning. Almost 20 per cent of Surrey pupils go to independent schools and the state system is full.”
Native authorities are legally obliged to offer a college place for each youngster of their space, but when close by state colleges haven’t any accessible spots, youngsters could also be assigned to distant colleges, with councils probably footing the invoice totally free transport and even taxis.
The brand new VAT levy is predicted by the federal government to drive round 35,000 pupils—6 per cent of these in non-public colleges—into the state sector nationwide. Nonetheless, this one-size-fits-all calculation belies vital native variations. Surrey, with greater than 40,000 privately educated pupils, faces a disproportionate surge in demand for state faculty locations.
Clare Curran, a Surrey County Council cupboard member, acknowledged the problem however maintained that the council would monitor the state of affairs and contemplate increasing sure state colleges if the necessity arose. She additionally famous that some colleges haven’t stuffed all of the locations they may theoretically supply.
In the meantime, a parliamentary petition calling for the federal government to reverse the VAT choice on non-public colleges reached over 100,000 signatures in per week, reflecting widespread concern in regards to the coverage’s unintended penalties.
A authorities spokesman defended the coverage, stating: “Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8bn a year by 2029-30 to help fund public services. Local authorities are responsible for securing enough school places, and we are confident the state sector can handle any additional pupils.”
Nonetheless, households and educators fear that the sudden inflow of personal faculty pupils right into a system already underneath pressure might intensify competitors for locations, push youngsters to journey additional for an training, and impose heavy prices on councils.
