The French Embassy in London has told the UK government that it is “concerned” about 20% VAT being imposed on French schools in Britain, The Sunday Times has reported.

These school are part funded by the French government and overseen by France’s education ministry.

The embassy stated: “In France, similar schools, such as the British School of Paris, are exempted from VAT.”

Parents of children attending the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle de Londres in South Kensington are also reported to have described the government’s plans as “an unfriendly cultural act” that will undermine Sir Keir Starmer’s attempts at forming closer ties with the French government.