School fees are tax deductible in other countries, so why not the UK?
As an advocate for quality, value-adding education, I uphold the view that the ‘platform’ (whether government or independently operated) does not matter. Therefore, I advocate for a voucher system that allows parents a choice of education for their child.
The UK already operates this model for early years education, offering up to 30 hours of free childcare, depending on parents’ income. Parents can then choose to use their voucher with a state or private provider, and, if they wish, pay a top-up fee to access a more expensive setting.
Private education in the UK has got itself in a terrible twist, with too much class-based social and political baggage.
The Labour Party understands this and is making hay with their anti-independent schools policy proposals. If these policies are enacted, the UK will be shooting itself in the foot.
In some competitor OECD countries, such as Australia, school fees are a tax-deductible expense. These countries recognise the importance of education as a public good.
Meanwhile, in many developing countries, private education is the norm: countries such as India have a much wider variety of low-cost and mid-market private schools successfully educating millions of children. Professor James Tooley’s fascinating study ‘The Beautiful Tree’ powerfully highlights the breadth of non-state educational provision in low and middle-income countries.
The end – positive outcomes for children – is far more important than the means. England has risen in international PISA rankings of its education system, but we need to work hard to maintain our cutting edge. The academy model means that arguably we are halfway towards a voucher system already.
Why not do it properly and offer parents genuine choice?
This would also incentivise parents to invest in their children's education, which would benefit not only the individual student but also the wider economy and society as a whole.
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