Former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden has accused Labour of depriving children in his Hertsmere constituency of “access to a Jewish education”.
In the Commons on Monday, Dowden shared his concern about the closure of Immanuel College prep school in Bushey.
He cited “VAT on school fees and other damaging Labour policies” as their reason for closure.
In questions to the Secretary of State for Education, Dowden expressed “concern about the damage that (Labour’s VAT rise) will do to Jewish children growing up in my constituency and the surrounding area, who will be deprived of access to a Jewish education, which they richly deserve”.
But the measures were defended by Education Minister Stephen Morgan, who responded by saying that: “The Government’s fiscal inheritance is so dire that we have to take tough, but necessary decisions and take them quickly.”
He continued to say that: “Removing VAT exemptions from January is the right thing to do to deliver for every child across our country.”
Last month, the JC reported that the Bushey school would be transferring most of the pupils currently taught there to Kerem School in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Parents were told: “Kerem’s longstanding relationship with Immanuel College will be strengthened and the Hampstead Garden Suburb-based school will become a feeder school and have access to the Bushey site and its facilities for activities and events.”
Naomi Simon, head of Kerem — which currently charges £14,550 a year — said, “We are very excited to be welcoming Immanuel College Prep families into our vibrant and flourishing community.”
In the aftermath of October’s budget, several Jewish charities expressed disappointment that the government didn’t exempt small independent religious schools from plans to charge VAT on fees.
The Jewish schools’ network, PaJeS, has previously warned that the policy could have disastrous consequences for the independent Jewish sector.
Chinuch UK has cautioned that the policy could lead some Charedi schools to close because parents were unable to afford the additional costs.