ELT schools “won’t be affected” by VAT policy

Published 21/02/2024

The Labour leader in the UK confirmed that English language schools will be exempt from VAT tax fees put in place by the party should it win the 2024 election, English UK has said.

The association’s public affairs team helped send a letter to the office of Sir Keir Starmer asking for ELT schools not to be included with private schools in the introduction of VAT fees.

The team confirmed they received a reply in recent days.

“Labour’s policy would charge VAT on fees for registered independent schools.

“English Language Schools, if not registered as independent schools with the Department of Education, would not be affected,” the reply read.

The move heralds a great victory for the ELT schools across the country, with English UK campaigning for some weeks after there was not clarity as to whether the VAT fee would apply to language schools.

This would have essentially resulted in a 20% hike that many would have difficulties dealing with – which membership director Huan Japes suggested would add salt to the wounds of the pandemic and fallout from Brexit – and put the UK at a disadvantage with its competitor countries.

“This is great news for the sector and proves how crucial it is that members are involved in our campaigning work,” Jodie Gray, the chief executive of English UK, said.

Jamie Brailsford, director of operations at UK Language Courses, said on LinkedIn that the development was “great for our industry”.

“It proves how crucial it is that members are involved in our campaigning work”

“This news will continue to allow us to be able to reach many more students who want to enhance their lives on study travel holidays, who otherwise would not have been able to,” Brailsford added.

Will Nash, who is a member of the Executive Board at the English Language Teaching Centre at the University Sheffield, also called the news “very encouraging indeed”.

English UK also thanked its member association schools in the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, where Starmer is MP, for supporting the campaign – including Ben Toettcher of SKOLA English in London and Sue Rao of ABC School of English.

The post ELT schools “won’t be affected” by VAT policy appeared first on The PIE News.