EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST
EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH THE MASTER
Mr. James Dahl FROM WELLINGTON COLLEGE, BERKSHIRE In this episode of Education Corner Podcast, Mr. James Dahl spoke to us about the work being done at Wellington College to promote and support social mobility, the possibility of VAT being introduced to school fees and the potential impact of this on social mobility and student support across the education sector.
With a 20% VAT on school fees set to be introduced from January 2025, many schools and parents across the independent sector are concerned about how this will affect both individuals and the sector as a whole. James Dahl, Master at Wellington College, has dedicated much of his time in post to broadening access to education and social responsibility programmes, which he hopes to be able to continue, despite the challenges facing the sector. A survey by Saltus suggests that up to 140,000 pupils might leave the independent sector if VAT is imposed, whilst the ISC estimates that up to 10,000 may have already left or not re-entered the independent sector this year, posing a risk that some schools may be unable to continue to operate. Unfortunately, some schools already seem to have been affected: “There’s probably a dozen or so independent schools that have closed in the last 6 to 9 months,” James told us. He also believes that it is “undoubtedly the case” that some schools will be unable to continue if VAT is introduced, especially: “the smaller schools that perhaps cater for more niche demands like SEND or faith-based schools or more rural schools.” It is not only the students who 58 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | AU T U M N 2 024
will need to leave the sector, but also the possibility that fewer will join in coming years and James added: “Very sadly, I think the lag impact is going to be that fewer will come into our sector and that will mean school closures.” This will also impact the state sector, with Julie Robinson, Head of the ISC, stating that she fears that: “VAT on fees could cause damage to the state system.” Whilst some estimates suggest that the VAT could raise £1.5 billion to go towards raising state school standards, other organisations, such as the Adam Smith Institute, have suggested that there could actually be an overall cost of closer to £1.8 billion for the sector. Whilst James “totally agrees with” the “aspiration of having more resources available for the state sector to be able to recruit more teachers and to support mental health provision,” he expressed concern that the money saved will not have the desired transformational effect on state education. “There are 23,000 state schools in the country, so 6,500 new teachers equates to one new teacher for every 4 state schools. So, this idea that this policy is somehow going to be able to transform and uplift the resourcing and the funding within the state sector is just not true.” James also noted how, in many areas of the country, the state school system does not have the capacity to take on extra students, especially those with additional needs such as SEND and EHCPs: “That is already an issue for the state sector and if there is a significant influx of children who need significant input, resources and support, it just isn’t
