Lecturer awarded £25k after her manager referenced her “Word Blindness” while a Private School shut down after VAT raid led to Student Exodus

Yasmeen Afzal said the department head’s disclosure of “sensitive private information” in front of pupils “humiliated” her.

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After her boss made fun of her dyslexia in front of students, a professor won £25,000 in a harassment lawsuit. An employment tribunal heard Yasmeen Afzal’s claim that she was “humiliated” when the director of her Department said, “You are dyslexic (unable to read),” in a class.

After the incident, the business studies lecturer said she was so distraught that she considered putting herself under a bus because she did not want her students to know the “sensitive personal information.” Mrs. Afzal stated in her lawsuit that she endured “relentless mistreatment” while attending Birmingham’s South and City College.

According to the tribunal, the education provider had not provided Mrs. Afzal with reasonable accommodations for her impairment, such as lowering her workload and allowing her more time to complete her work. After her claims of harassment and refusal to make reasonable adjustments were successful, she received £25,357.15 in compensation.

Higher education programs offered by the college include A-levels, apprenticeships, and degrees. When Mrs. Afzal returned to work after maternity leave in 2013, she complained about her workload, according to the Birmingham tribunal. Mrs. Afzal had several fit notes between 2014 and 2024, nearly all of which mentioned work-related stress.

The tribunal observed that she had been unemployed for almost a year at that time and that “a petition was being organised questioning her ability.”

She Felt ‘Humiliated and Distress‘

Her “substantial” absences from college occurred from August 2018 to April or May 2019 and from September 2017 to March 2018 due to work-related stress.

The head of the business and financial services school at the time, a guy identified in the tribunal ruling as Mr. Moustache, entered Mrs. Afzal’s class in May 2019.

In front of the children, he informed her that she had to complete an absence record form and finish another administrative work pertaining to attendance.

“[Mrs. Afzal] claimed that during the subsequent conversation, Mr. Moustache stated three times: ‘You are dyslexic,'” the tribunal heard.

Mrs. Afzal claimed that she was “humiliated and distressed, on multiple occasions, due to unfair treatment by Mr. Moustache” and that she was “embarrassed in front of the students who were present.”

She told the hearings about the May 2019 incident Saying, “She felt humiliated and could not even look up at her students whilst it was taking place.

“She felt vulnerable because she could not stop Mr Moustache referring to her dyslexia even though she tried. When she left work on that day, she saw a bus and contemplated throwing herself under it. She told us her suicidal thoughts were related to that incident only. She said she feared Mr Moustache would humiliate her in similar ways again, that is by mentioning her disability in front of others. “

She had nightmares, affecting her sleep. What happened still haunts her now. She is petrified of disclosing her dyslexia to anyone.”

Since then, Mr. Moustache has retired.

The tribunal concluded that Mrs. Afzal was “working considerably more than her contracted hours” starting in 2019 and that this was unrelated to her “capability.” During that year, Mrs. Afzal provided her employers with a medical report that explained her inability to fulfil tasks during the workweek and her need for additional time to complete tasks.

Following receipt of this report, the tribunal concluded that the college did “next to nothing.” When she was off unwell in September 2020, Mrs. Afzal claimed that she began to feel suicidal. Her parents assisted her with “household chores, cooking, and looking after her children.”

Employment Judge David Faulkner concluded by stating that Mrs. Afzal “struggled to do a job she plainly loved” and that she felt the institution “did not care” because of its “inaction in the face of her request for assistance.” Regarding the May 2019 event, the judge stated: “This was public harassment, but it was also in front of students that Mrs. Afzal was supposed to instruct and who had no right to know private information about her.”

“It makes perfect sense that she wouldn’t want them to be aware of her dyslexia.”

Mrs. Afzal was awarded £15,000 for emotional distress resulting from the failure to make reasonable accommodations and £3,000 for emotional distress resulting from Mr. Moustache’s harassment. Also Two interest payments totalling £1,386.74 and £5,970.41 were given to her on those awards.

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Private School Forced to Close after VAT Raid

After predicting a steep decline in student enrolment due to labour tax hikes, a private school announced its closure.

The Catholic primary school St. Joseph’s Park Hill in Burnley, Lancashire, has announced that it will close this year, citing the application of VAT on fees as the reason why many parents cannot afford its tuition.

Private Schools That Have Blamed VAT Raid for Closure

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Because of the taxes, the primary school’s “lower fees were becoming out of reach for some of our community,” according to Sister Bernadette Holmes, leader of the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, which operates it.

Citing the VAT raid and rising business and National Insurance (NI) rates, it is projecting a one-third decrease in student enrolment.

Due to Labour’s tax assault on private schools, which went into effect on January 1 and made school fees liable to 20% VAT for the first time, it is the most recent school to be forced to close. Twelve private schools closed in March, citing the government’s VAT raid as the reason.

Parents at St. Joseph’s Park Hill, who had previously been paying about £8,000 a year, would suddenly have to spend over £10,000 due to the 20% rise in school fees.

𝖵𝖠Τ 𝖱ɑꪱᜒᑯ 𝖢ɑυડ౿ડ 𝖫ɑ𝗋𝗀౿ડ𝗍 𝖥౿౿ 𝖲ρꪱᜒƙ౿ 𝗈𐓣 𝖱౿ɕ𝗈𝗋ᑯ

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Sister Bernadette wrote in her letter to parents. “it has proved difficult to secure a viable and stable future given the unrelenting headwinds we face.” The school will close at the end of this year’s summer session, she reported to The Telegraph.

“St Joseph’s Park Hill has always been a very special place. Children have thrived at the school for generations, and they have made a real and lasting contribution to their community.”

“In line with our charitable objectives, we have always tried to ensure that fees have remained as low as possible to support local families. However, the number of pupils at the school was expected to drop by a third over the course of this academic year.”

She went on to say that a number of problems, including the withdrawal of business rates relief, a dropping birth rate, higher NI contributions, and the application of VAT on fees, had made it  “increasingly difficult to find a long-term viable future for the school”.

Local Conservative councillor Ivor Emo stated: “I’m not keen on any school closing. The VAT tax is the straw that has broken the camel’s back, and the parents are going to have to pay extra funds and they might have already been on the breadline.”

The Independent Schools Inspectorate gave the Catholic school, which opened in 1913, an exceptional rating in every category. With a capacity of 131 seats, it was last reported to have 128 children, ages three to eleven, on its register.

“Once again, we can see the deeply damaging impacts of Labour’s education tax,” stated Neil O’Brien, the Tory MP for Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston in the East Midlands.

“Every independent school that is forced to close by this punitive measure represents more pupils that will need to be found places for in state schools, many of which will struggle to accommodate them. Fewer parents will get their first choice of state school as a result, and classroom sizes will inevitably get bigger.”

“At the end of the day, it will be parents, pupils, and teachers in the state sector that will pay the price for Labour’s ideological attack.”

Labour has always defended its tax policy, claiming that the money raised will be used to repair shortages in education and other public services.

Former Labour member and independent Burnley MP Oliver Ryan stated: “This is clearly very sad news. This is a lovely school, and I am supportive of parents being able to choose to pay for private provision should they wish to…

“The local council, my office and I stand ready to assist any parents and students in finding alternative provision. On VAT specifically, we have some really lovely excellent local schools that will receive additional funding because of this Government’s decision to end the VAT tax break on private educational establishments.”

VAT on Private Schools: What is it?

Why did the UK Government impose VAT on Fees for Private Schools?

In an effort to raise standards and provide better prospects for the nine out of ten children who attend state schools, we have eliminated tax advantages for private schools. Priorities for education in the upcoming academic year will be funded by the VAT revenue.

How much will this Generate?

The Treasury estimates that the tax will generate £1.725 billion annually to support public finances and enhance youth education and results.

When is this going to happen?

Private school fees will be subject to the usual 20% VAT rate as of January 1, 2025. VAT will be applied to any fees paid after July 29, 2024, for the period beginning in January 2025 and beyond.

Beginning in April 2025, private schools that are charities will no longer be eligible for charitable business rates relief, which offers an 80% reduction in the rates they pay on their property. It is now possible for private schools to file for VAT on boarding and education expenses. You can register for or view a recording of the webinars that HMRC will be holding on VAT registration Here.

Does this imply a 20% increase in Private School Fee?

We don’t anticipate that a 20% increase in private school tuition will result from an increase in VAT. This is due to the fact that private schools, like other businesses, are exempt from having to raise fees to reflect the VAT hike. We estimate that fees will likely increase by about 10% on average as a result of the initiatives.

Will State Schools be under additional strain as a result?

IFS data indicates that the state school sector will not be significantly impacted by an increase in VAT on private schools.

Even though tuition has risen faster than inflation in recent years, the number of students attending independent schools has stayed relatively constant. As a result, we anticipate that about 35,000 students—less than 0.5 percent of all students—will transfer from private to state schools in the UK.

Additionally, there is ample evidence that there are more than enough spots available in state schools for students who might transfer from private schools.

83% of elementary schools had at least one open spot as of last year, which is the highest percentage in ten years. Secondary schools also exhibit this, with 77% of them having one or more open spots. To ensure that there are enough school spots for the local students, we also collaborate with the local government.

What impact will this have on Students with SEND?

Whether or not they have a local authority-funded Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) and what it recommends will determine how VAT impacts private school tuition for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Local Authorities will be entitled to recover the VAT they pay on these students’ tuition if they pay for their attendance at private schools (for example, because the school is listed in the student’s Education, Health, and Care Plan). However, VAT will be applied to the fees of private schools when parents and guardians decide to send their kid with SEND.

This is applicable in cases where the local government has determined that a private school spot is not required to address their needs, even though they have an EHCP. We are dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to a top-notch education, and we will work to ensure that mainstream schools provide earlier intervention so that kids with less complex needs can receive the support they require.

Will pre-paid fees be subject to taxes as well?

20% VAT will be applied to tuition and boarding costs for private schools paid after July 29, 2024, for a period ending on or after January 1, 2025.

Depending on the agreements made by the pre-payment program, any tuition and boarding costs paid in advance before July 29, 2024, for the start of January 1, 2025, may also be subject to 20% VAT. More details about your school’s pre-payment plans can be obtained from them.

Does this imply that Private Schools would stop offering Scholarships and Bursaries to cover the higher expenses?

Schools may opt to save money in a variety of ways, but how to pay for additional tax obligations will be a business decision for each school. We don’t anticipate that bursaries in the private school industry as a whole would be significantly impacted by these developments.

For Military families that send their kids to Boarding Institutions, what does this mean?

The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office offer qualifying Officials and Service Personnel the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) in recognition of the tremendous sacrifices made by our military families.

In accordance with how the allowance typically functions, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will increase the funding allotted to the CEA prior to the VAT policy taking effect. This will take into account the effect of any increases in private school fees on the percentage of fees covered by the CEA.

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