VAT anomaly threatens the success of Sixth Form Colleges

I recently added my name to a letter signed by a cross-party group of 75 MPs to Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education, urging her to support the introduction of a VAT refund scheme for the 93 Sixth Form Colleges in England, including BSix in Hackney.

At present, school and academy sixth forms have their VAT costs refunded by the Government, while Sixth Form Colleges do not. As a result, the average Sixth Form College has to redirect £335,000 of its annual funding away from the front line education of students to pay VAT.

For no reason Sixth Form Colleges are having less to spend on the education of students each year. Young people should receive the same level of investment in their education, irrespective of where they choose to study. This anomaly should be addressed as quickly as possible.