Bradley has secured a parliamentary debate on the Government’s decision to remove VAT and business rates exemptions from independent schools.
It will be taking place on Tuesday, October 8th in Westminster Hall where Bradley will be raising the concerns of local parents whose children have been affected by the Government’s policy.
There are three independent schools in Bromsgrove and the Villages, including Bromsgrove School which employs more than 600 local people and contributes over £40 million to the UK’s GDP.
Bradley is concerned the policy will risk the viability of independent schools in Bromsgrove and across the country and would cost taxpayers up to £1.6 billion. The policy could also push tens of thousands of more children into state schools - reducing the quality of education for children across the country.
Along with five colleagues, Bradley previously wrote to the Chancellor and Education Secretary to request a meeting to discuss their policy, however they failed to respond.
By holding a Westminster Hall debate, a Government Minister will have to attend and respond to the points raised by Bradley.
Bradley said:
“The Government’s destructive proposal to impose VAT on independent schools is not only an ill-conceived affront to the children and families who currently exercise choice in education provision, but an attack on the wider education system that will undoubtedly do little to enhance the quality of state education and will instead level down education standards across the board – and I say that as someone who was proudly educated in excellent state schools.
“Purely for ideological reasons, parents who work hard and make sacrifices to send their children to an independent school are being punished by this Government.
“I’ve already been made aware of parents who have had to pull their children out of independent schools in Bromsgrove because of the Government’s decision to impose VAT on fees. These children will now have to find places in state schools, increasing class sizes which this Government doesn’t seem to care about it, nor do they seem to have a plan to address the ramifications of their policy.
“I will be raising the concerns of local parents at my debate where a Government Minister will be forced to respond and to justify their decision to impose these fees and level down education for all children.”
