Julie Robinson

The Independent Schools Council’s chief executive Julie Robinson has said that independent schools remaining in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) has become “simply unaffordable”.

The number of independent schools withdrawing their staff from the TPS doubled last year amid financial pressures including the government’s VAT on fees policy.

Last year, 177 schools withdrew or partly withdrew from the TPS, the highest number since records began and nearly double the 90 that pulled out in 2023.

Speaking to iNews, Robinson said the sector is contending with an array of financial challenges, including increases to TPS employer contributions, VAT on school fees, the loss of business rates relief, and National Insurance rises.

Robinson added: “In these circumstances, schools are having to look at every level of their cost base and make difficult decisions. While the first preference for schools would be to remain in the TPS, for an increasing number of schools, this is simply unaffordable. Like all responsible employers, schools will be considering alternative schemes available to them. Teachers are schools’ most valuable resource, and schools will be doing all they can to ensure their staff have fair pay and conditions.”