One in five private school teachers say they have had colleagues made redundant due to Labour’s VAT on fees, according to a survey.
The National Education Union (NEU) polled 4,000 teachers in independent schools in England and Wales about the policy, which came into effect from January.
It found 22 per cent had seen redundancies at their school due to the tax raid, because of the need to find cost savings.
In addition, 26 per cent said their school had frozen recruitment, and 30 per cent said inflation-related pay rises had been impacted.
Meanwhile, 26 per cent said unfavourable pension proposals had been put forward due to the policy.
Labour has insisted the tax raid is necessary to pay for 6,500 new teachers for the state sector.
However, it has caused financial problems for some private schools, either because they are absorbing the tax or losing pupils by passing it on to parents.
The NEU report said: ‘The recent introduction of VAT on fees has already had an impact on staffing at independent schools.
A new survey has found that 22 per cent of private school teachers have seen some of their colleagues made redundant following Labour’s VAT raid on fees (file photo)
A total of 26 per cent of survey respondents said their school had frozen recruitment as a result of Labour’s policy (file photo)
‘This includes redundancies as well as a freeze on recruitment.
‘Schools have also used the change as an opportunity to depress payments to both teachers and support staff.’
The NEU said the survey, which was unweighted, suggested that pay increases in private schools lag behind the state sector.
In the current academic year, just 12 per cent of respondents in private schools received an increase that matched or bettered the state sector pay award of 5.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, 32 per cent of respondents said the cost of living had forced them into extra paid work, with 9 per cent doing overtime, 35 per cent doing a second job and 64 per cent carrying out private tuition.
One teacher told the survey: ‘I now have to tutor as I can’t afford to live on my teacher salary alone, after 20 years of being in the profession.’
Others said they were working in bars and restaurants during the holidays, while one said they were ‘nannying and babysitting’.
Another said: ‘As a family man, I now struggle to afford a modest house and bills. My debt is increasing.’
The vast majority of teacher respondents – 93 per cent – said the cost-of-living crisis has affected their standard of living, with 39 per cent saying by ‘a lot’.
The NEU said the survey suggested that pay increases in the private sector were lagging behind state schools (file photo)
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: ‘Staff in private schools are seeing their standard of living eroded by the continuing cost of living crisis.
‘That is why members have become so energised by campaigns launched by the NEU, which have taken on workload, attacks on pensions and “fire and rehire” strategies.
‘Employers will use the Government’s VAT policy as an excuse to continue with more of the same.
‘They must not make the mistake of thinking they have carte blanche to do as they wish.’
Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) said: ‘School leaders and governors will always do everything they can to invest in teachers and staff, which are the most valuable resource any school has.
‘However, as this poll shows, the Government’s choice to tax education is already having an impact on jobs and opportunities in independent schools.
‘Many of these people – losing jobs they love in a community they feel part of – will choose to exit teaching entirely, and this exodus of passion, expertise and skill will be felt across education.
‘We trust the unions will continue to engage with the Government on the negative and entirely avoidable impact this tax on education is having on their members, our schools and everybody’s children.’
A Government spokesman said: ‘It is this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and ensure every child has the best life chances.
‘Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029/30 to help deliver 6,500 new teachers and raise school standards, supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools to achieve and thrive.’
