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Has VAT on school fees impacted divorce?
Yes. Samantha Woodham explains to Tatler how VAT on school fees has increased disagreements between separating parents over private schooling, and why seeking joint legal advice from one lawyer helps.
Has VAT on school fees impacted divorce?
This was the question our co-founder Samantha was asked by Tatler.
And the answer is yes.
As Samantha explains, there have always been disagreements between separating parents as to the choice of private schools, or whether their children should be privately educated, but these have significantly increased since the advent of VAT on school fees.
Parents are now thinking much more strategically about the value of private education, sometimes opting for ‘state till 8’ or looking at day schools rather than the more expensive boarding options.
If parents are getting divorced or separating, this can trigger a re-examination of whether private schooling continues to work for the family. In the context of family finances, sometimes divorce creates a financial pinch-point such that private education is no longer affordable, or families might look for economies by moving children from boarding to day schools.
The key for parents is not to rush into decisions because this can spark litigation. It isn’t at all uncommon to disagree about school choices, and this often comes up on divorce. The most important decision parents take is how they choose to navigate that disagreement. Seeking legal advice together from one lawyer is an excellent way to short circuit the process and get to an impartial legal analysis which also, crucially, takes account of their children’s views.
You can read the full Tatler article, When parents believe a private school has failed their child, here.