Our new local MP Jess Brown-Fuller visited Westbourne House School to meet with Headmaster Martin Barker and look around the school.
Mr Barker invited Jess to the school to discuss his concerns about VAT and the effect it would have on children across the UK.
Mr Barker said: “Jess is the first non-Conservative MP for Chichester since 1924, which is quite an achievement. She is obviously heavily engaged with helping our local community in whatever way that she can, whilst upholding her role with health and social care, looking to improve access to NHS services.”
“Of course, the key topics for me as head of Westbourne House School are the speed of implementation of VAT and the very nature of VAT on independent school fees. As we know, many issues around VAT on fees have been raised over this last period. However, in addition, there is huge disparity between the promise Labour gave independent schools before being elected, which put the implementation of VAT at the end of the 2024-25 school year, and the now planned implementation in January 2025.
"For all independent schools this is a big challenge; the application of VAT on fees is not straight forward with some elements of the school day VATable and others not. As the IAPS regional chair for Sussex, I know that there are 500 prep schools of 200 pupils or fewer, that are going to really struggle to implement this complex change at such high speed.”
“It was reassuring to hear that the Liberal Democrats policy still remains opposed to the government position. While it is difficult to see any change in the policy in the immediate future, it is important that the government is held to account for the various complications that arise out of this policy, which I am assured by Jess Brown-Fuller the Lib Dems will do.”
“There are many big issues for MPs to deal with in the upcoming period, and it was refreshing to meet someone new in their role getting out into the community and listening to local concerns.”
