Judges reject appeal claiming VAT on private school fees infringe human rights

Court of Appeal judges rejected arguments that introducing VAT on private school fees was contrary to human rights law.

Many schools, the children who attend them and their parents have previously filed a lawsuit against the Treasury, claiming that this policy violates human rights law.

Three judges rejected the Supreme Court appeal in June last year.

With its decision on Friday morning, the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal against this decision.

In the 44-page judgment, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Singh and Lady Justice Falk said the Government had given reasonable reasons for not exempting low-cost private schools from VAT, including that it would have “serious detrimental consequences”.

They continued: “We recognize that the measure could have a serious impact on beneficiaries in the first group if they cannot afford private education consistent with their religious beliefs, but it is important to bear in mind that they have the option of home education if free education in the state sector is unacceptable to them.”

More to follow…