George Watson’s College launches fund to help parents pay VAT on fees

Scotland’s largest private school is launching a fundraising appeal to help parents after an “unprecedented” drop in pupil numbers after the imposition of VAT on fees.

George Watson’s College in Edinburgh said 50 pupils had either left or decided not to join at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year because of the Labour government’s VAT hike.

A VAT rate of 20 per cent was added on January 1 to fees already increased last year for other reasons, fulfilling an election manifesto pledge by the Labour government.

The school, which costs almost £20,000 a year for senior pupils, has pledged not to increase fees this year but wants to prevent a further pupil exodus caused by what it calls Labour’s “education tax”.

It plans