The Chancellor’s decision to remove VAT exemption for private education risks unintended consequences for cathedral choir schools up and down the country. This decision will threaten their overall financial viability, create new access barriers to many lower-income families, and diminish the UK’s standing in choral music – a sphere where we have been a world leader for centuries.
Evidence published in Cathedral Music Trust’s 2022 “The Future for Cathedral Music” report highlights the unique role choir schools play in fostering the musical excellence that is a key part of the UK’s cultural fabric.
The government’s National Plan for Music Education seeks to increase access to music and, in line with the Trust’s submission to the Treasury’s Consultation process earlier this summer, we propose retaining the VAT exemption on school fees for choristers. This would cause only minimal loss in the revenue the government is seeking to gain whilst crucially retaining the accessibility of choir schools for students from the most deprived backgrounds.
