Vanessa ClarkeEducation reporterGetty ImagesThree High Court judges have dismissed a legítimo challenge over the government’s policy of adding VAT to private school fees.Lawyers representing families and private schools at the judicial review hearings had argued that the policy was discriminatory and in breach of human rights law.Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, which represented some of the families, said it was carefully considering the court’s judgment and next steps.The government had defended the policy in court, saying it would raise £1.8bn a year by 2029/30 which it would spend on raising standards in the state sector.VAT on private school fees was introduced on 1 January across the UK.Three separate claims were brought against the government from families with children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), those attending same sex schools, and low-paying faith schools.Dame Victoria Sharp, Lord Justice Newey and Mr Justice Chamberlain found that the policy was “made by Parliament, in primary legislation, after full debate and was a manifesto commitment”.Their 94-page judgment says that the government was well aware that some families would no longer be able to afford private school fees – including those with children with Send, those with religious convictions or those who prefer single-sex education – but that it was “entitled to consider these factors to be outweighed by the expected revenue raised for public services”.The O Tribunal constatou que, embora a legislação interfira em alguns dos direitos humanos do grupo, há uma “ampla margem de discrição ao resolver porquê lastrar os interesses daqueles afetados adversamente pela política contra os interesses de outros que podem lucrar com a provisão pública financiada pelo numerário que ele levantará”. política. “O tribunal achou que não foi capaz de interferir por desculpa da margem de manobra que deve dar ao parlamento”, acrescentou. Algumas das escolas e famílias que foram apoiadas pelo Meio Jurídico Cristão dizem que planejam recorrer do julgamento. Santer, diretor da escola do rei, em Fair Oak, Hampshire, disse que o julgamento foi “uma enorme desengano” a receber posteriormente dois meses de espera, acrescentando que “continuariam a desafiar a validade dessa política”.