Wes Streeting tells private schools to 'cut cloth like state schools' over VAT worriesGlobal Player, LBC
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00:00Let me just put a challenge back to the independent school sector as well.
00:04They say that charging VAT on school fees will price people out and all the rest of it.
00:11I'm focusing on SEND children.
00:14But I would just say to independent schools, you have hiked your fees up with inflation
00:20busting increases year after year after year since 2010 and now you're pleading poverty.
00:25If you're worried about whether children in your schools will continue to access your schools,
00:29you'll have to cut your cloth in the way that state schools have had to do.
00:33It is SEND children that I'd like to focus on.
00:35Isn't there a real danger this could have a knock-on effect to you
00:37and your colleagues in the health department
00:39when a time when mental health services are so stretched?
00:41If we have a high number of children now not able to receive the special tuition?
00:46Firstly, I'd say the statemented route is available to children and young people
00:50and their parents in that situation.
00:51I'd also say to independent schools, they have the means.
00:55They have hiked up their fees with inflation busting increases for well over a decade
01:00and I'm sure they can take steps to mitigate against children being forced to drop out.