Exclusive:Enquiries about Edinburgh school places soar by nearly 20% in wake of Labour's VAT change

Newly-released data shows there was a near 20 per cent increase in the number of school placement enquiries to Edinburgh City Council for P1 and S1 spaces in the wake of the UK government’s original announcement on VAT.

The umbrella body for the sector said the figures were more evidence the reversal on VAT exemption was a “flawed policy”.

But Edinburgh City Council said the rise could be attributed to clearer guidance on how to apply on the council’s website to new families moving to the city.

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Enquiries for school places in the Scottish capital have risen steadily since the 2019/20 academic year from 2,259 to 5,081 in 2024/25.

However, the sharpest increase has been recorded since the 2024 Labour manifesto pledge was trailed.

For the 2023/24 academic year from July to August, the rise was 17.6 per cent, climbing to 18.3 per cent for the past academic year.

The Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS) said the figures, released under Freedom of Information legislation, demonstrated the pressure being felt by private school parents.

A SCIS spokeswoman said: "VAT on fees is a flawed policy which is costing the state money, and it should be reversed before it causes more damage to Scottish education. An independent report by BiGGAR economics found the education tax would cost taxpayers money at the point the independent sector shrinks by 13 per cent or more.

“SCIS census data shows we have already reached this point in the P1 and S1 year groups.”

Scottish Conservative education spokesman and Lothians MSP Miles Briggs said: “The huge rise in parents asking about spaces in state schools coincides with the threat and then the implementation of VAT on independent schools.

“Supporters of the ridiculous VAT policy claimed it wouldn’t have an impact on the rolls of state schools. This is yet another piece of evidence to the contrary.”

Council bosses said officers were constantly monitoring enquiries around places in Edinburgh schools.

Councillor James Dalgleish, the education, children and families convenor, said: “Alongside this, we are continuing to assess any impact that the change in VAT status of independent schools might have.

“Our data shows that the anticipated influx into our schools from the independent school sector hasn’t materialised.

“To date, there has been no significant change or impact to the number of S1 or P1 pupil intakes at our schools since the start of the new school year, and we have had no difficulty in accommodating the small number of children and young people who have transitioned into one of our schools from an independent school.”

Concerns had also been raised about a potential flood of private school pupils into the state system from pupils already attending private school.

Edinburgh City Council insisted this situation had not materialised, with only small numbers of pupils moving school. This is distinct from enquiries for new pupils.

As of September this year, council figures show 17 pupils moved from a fee-paying school to a council school in this academic year. Some 21 teenagers started in S1 at a state secondary, having been at a private primary school.

Schools, it is understood, are not reporting a significant increase in applications from the independent sector.

In total, from June 1, 2024, until Wednesday, June 18, some 78 children and young people have moved from an Edinburgh private school to a council school.

Mr Dalgleish said: “The increase in the number of enquires received centrally about a place in P1 or S1 in one of our schools could be down to a variety of factors, including clearer guidance on our website signposting how to enquire, increase in new families moving to the city, and parents/carers from the independent sector exploring options.”

The SCIS spokeswoman added: “There are no winners from the education tax, which is placing pressure on all parts of the education system in Scotland, and harming the economy.

“The independent sector is committed to working in partnership with the state sector to benefit as many pupils as possible. There is far more to be gained by working with us, than against us.”