The Labour threat to Church music traditions

SIR – Regarding the Labour Party’s plans to charge VAT on school fees (Letters, March 26), the Church of England should perhaps be made aware of worrying unintended consequences.

Most choir schools subsidise scholarships from the fees of non-choir pupils. As these schools are often small, the tax would pose a serious threat to the great tradition of cathedral music.

I know of a number of other independent schools that also subsidise music for young people in their area and award scholarships to local churches.

This is a serious concern in the music community, and the Church should suggest that Labour offsets VAT in relation to scholarships and support for church music.

Rev Robert Tickle

Harrold, Bedfordshire sir – Before retiring last year, I was the headmaster of two HMC schools and chair of the board of governors at two private schools. Like many, I am deeply disappointed – but not surprised – by Labour’s stated plan to introduce VAT on private school fees.

We should, as a society, do everything in our power to give young people the very best education we can, as it has proved to be the bedrock of almost every good thing this world has to offer. All that Labour’s policy will do is narrow the overall educational provision, reduce state-private partnerships, deny many the chance of bursaries and scholarships, and put private education further out of reach for many less well-off pupils.

And all in the name of raising more money for state schools – an indubitably faulty calculation.

John Richardson

Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire