Several private schools, as well as some pupils and their parents, have launched a legal challenge over the government imposing VAT on private schools.
The claimants, which include children and families at faith schools and families who have sent their children with special educational needs (SEN) to private school, are taking the legal action against the Treasury.
They claim the policy of applying VAT to fees is discriminatory and a breach of human rights law.
Pic: PA
The Treasury is defending the challenges, with HMRC and the Department for Education (DfE) also taking part.
Dozens of supporters of the challenge appeared at the High Court in London for the first day of the hearing on Tuesday.
Lord David Pannick KC, representing one group of children and their parents, said that for some children currently in private schools, their needs are not met by state schools in their area, or at all, but the new law applies “irrespective” of a family’s need.
“The application of the law does have a…
