Christian schools to take VAT challenge to the Supreme Court

A coalition of Christian schools, parents and pupils has vowed to continue its fight against the UK Government’s decision to impose 20% VAT on private school fees, after the Court of Appeal today dismissed their legal challenge. The claimants will now apply for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, insisting that the judgment raises profound questions about educational freedom, parental rights and the future of low‑cost Christian schooling in the UK. The case, brought by families and leaders from Emmanuel School in Derby, The Branch Christian School in Yorkshire, The King’s School in Hampshire and Wyclif Independent Christian School in South Wales, and supported by the Christian Legal Centre, challenged the Government’s 2025 decision to apply VAT to school fees, a measure they say is already forcing closures and driving vulnerable children out of their schools.

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