John Mclellan

The imposition of VAT on private school fees is accelerating pressure on Scotland’s independent schools by driving families back into already overcrowded state schools in Edinburgh. Popular schools such as Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s report strained facilities, while the council insists spare capacity remains. Independent schools face declining enrolment and are selling assets to stay viable. Critics argue Labour views private schools primarily as revenue sources and ignores the resulting impact on state‑school capacity and parental choice.