RismadarVoice Reporters, September 1, 2026
The number of foreign children studying at private schools in the United Kingdom has fallen sharply following the introduction of a 20 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on school fees by the Labour government.
Official Home Office figures show that the number of child student visas granted to international pupils dropped by about a fifth between June 2025 and June 2026.
According to an analysis of the latest immigration statistics, child student visas fell from 13,022 in the year ending June 2025 to 10,446 in the year ending June 2026 the lowest figure recorded since 2012.
The decline has been linked by education experts to the government’s decision to remove the VAT exemption for private school fees and impose a 20 per cent tax from January 2025.
The policy has led many independent schools to increase fees, raising concerns that higher costs could discourage international families from choosing Britain as an education destination.
Iain Mansfield, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank, said the figures indicated that the VAT policy had negatively affected the country’s education sector.
He argued that the decline could result in millions of pounds in lost revenue as families choose to educate their children in other countries.
The fall was particularly significant among Chinese students, with child student visas issued to them declining by about 36 per cent, from 3,617 to 2,301.
There were also substantial reductions among other major groups, including Russian students, whose visas fell by 37 per cent, German students by 20 per cent and American students by 17 per cent.
Child student visas are required for foreign nationals aged between four and 17 who intend to study at independent schools in the UK.
The Boarding Schools’ Association also acknowledged the decline in international enrolment, saying the introduction of VAT on fees had contributed to fewer overseas students choosing British boarding schools.
Its chief executive, Robin Fletcher, said the policy appeared to conflict with the government’s efforts to promote the UK as a leading destination for international education.
However, Fletcher noted that VAT was not the only factor responsible for the decline, pointing to growing competition from other English-speaking countries.
He said the UK must examine how it can remain an attractive destination for international students by improving its competitiveness and investing in its education sector.
Meanwhile, Britain’s private school sector has faced growing financial pressure since the VAT policy took effect.
More than 115 private schools have reportedly closed since the introduction of the measure, according to figures from the Independent Schools Council.
The government has defended the policy, arguing that ending the VAT exemption on private school fees would generate billions of pounds for the state education sector.
A government spokesman said the additional revenue was being used to support the recruitment of more than 6,500 teachers and improve standards in state schools, which educate about 94 per cent of children in the country.
The government has also argued that private school fees had already risen substantially before VAT was introduced, with average fees increasing by about 75 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2025.
It maintains that the overall proportion of children attending private schools has remained broadly stable and that the number of independent schools remains higher than in previous years.
The government says private schools should manage the financial impact of the tax in the same way as other private businesses.
