A city MP has voiced fears that a York school could be forced to close due to current government policy.
Rachael Maskell has asked for a meeting with ministers to discuss the case.
The York Central MP was speaking during education questions in the House of Commons yesterday (Monday).
From January, the government plans to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.
But the Labour MP said she feared for the future of York Steiner School, based at Fulford Cross if this policy goes ahead.
“The Steiner School, with its nurturing and therapeutic pedagogy, is most challenged by the VAT policy,” Ms Maskell said, in a question to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
“Yet it enables many children to access school who have anxiety, or otherwise wouldn’t be in education.
“Would she meet with me to discuss my report on the impact of the VAT policy and find ways that we can keep this school open, and the children in education?”
Her question was answered by education minister Stephen Morgan. “We expect private schools will want to want to continue to demonstrate wider public benefit through the provision of means tested bursaries and through partnerships with state-funded schools after these changes are made,” he said.
As this was a taxation matter, the treasury were leading on the policy, Mr Morgan said.
“I would encourage all private schools to engage with this process,” he said, adding he would happily meet with Ms Maskell to discuss her report.
York Steiner School is an independent school and charity. It was rated ‘Good’ at its last Ofsted inspection in 2022.
It says on its website: “As a non-profit community, our fees are the lowest they can be to ensure a Steiner education is accessible to as many families as possible.
“Our parents pay what they can afford based on their income.”
That means if the parents’ gross annual income is up to £20,000, the annual fee for a child over five is £3,090. If the household income is more than £80,000, the fee rises to £10,042.50.
York Steiner School is based on the Steiner Walorf education principles. The website says: “Our distinctive non-denominational curriculum fosters a lifelong love of learning based on a deep understanding of the needs of each child where the whole school community works (and plays!) together.”