Headteacher opens up on his fears children to suffer due to Labour's controversial tax plans

It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed Labour's private school tax raid will begin in January.

The policy means schools will be liable for 20 per cent VAT on tuition fees paid from Monday for January next year onwards, while business rates are expected to come into force in April.

Pietrek told GB News: "We all knew that the VAT was going to be applied to school fees.It doesn't allow people as much time to plan what they want to do, it seems to be steamrollered through by the Labour Government.

"They have not taken into consideration really into the impact that it will have on children. That is the biggest issue to get across here.

"While you may have a problem with independent schools, ideologically as a party, but to do this it is the children who will be most adversely affected by it."

When asked if independent schools are already seeing the impact of the VAT tax raid, Pietrek said: "I think every independent school will be looking very closely what they can do."

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He added: "Wes Streeting and Rachel Reeves have both made their point about schools needing to cut their cloth, therefore inevitably I don't think there's a school anywhere that will not be looking very carefully at where they can be trimming expenses in order to be able to think carefully how they can reduce fees and reduce impact.

"I think it is inevitable the number of pupils in independent schools will decline whether that's immediate or the result of people saying they're not going to think about going in the future.

"There's also the possibility of the recalibration of school fees over the next year and that people will adjust in their thinking to what school fees are going to become.

"I think that one of the considerations is how VAT is going to be applied by schools, and we have heard stories about schools that will not pass on the VAT they are very much in the minority. I don't think those schools are even in a position to do it and it is a big gamble on their part.

A Government spokesperson told GB News: "We want to ensure all children have the best chance in life to succeed.

:Ending tax breaks on privateschools will help to raise the revenue needed to fund our education priorities for next year, such as recruiting 6,500 new teachers."