Donna Stevens, The Girls’ Schools Association chief executive, comments on the High Court of Justice ruling on the Government imposing VAT on the provision of education by independent schools

The Girls’ School Association, Chief Executive, Donna Stevens, comments:

“The priority of the Girls’ Schools Association is to secure a right of access to girls’ schools for young women, and we were proud to support the legal challenge to the government’s punitive VAT tax levy on our independent girls’ schools. Today, the judiciary has ruled that there are no legal grounds for exemption for our independent girls’ schools. While the claim was granted permission (i.e., considered arguable), it has unfortunately been dismissed. This is a great disappointment. The loss of access to our schools for any girl is unthinkable. It’s clear that the government has not thought through the full effects of what this might mean for women’s futures. As the experts in girls’ education, we remain committed to pressing the government to work with us on their priorities for the education of girls.”