Clongowes Wood College In Clane Targets UK Families As VAT Hikes Hit British Private Schools

Wednesday, 26 March 2025 15:30

By Martin Osborne

Since January 1, private schools in the UK have been subject to a 20 per cent value-added tax (VAT) imposed by the Labour government, raising annual fees significantly.

Clongowes Wood College in Clane is actively advertising to families in the United Kingdom as British private schools face increased costs due to new VAT regulations.

Since January 1, private schools in the UK have been subject to a 20 per cent value-added tax (VAT) imposed by the Labour government, raising annual fees significantly.

In contrast, Irish fee-paying schools, including Clongowes, remain exempt from VAT.

Clongowes Wood College charges €27,957 per year for senior cycle boarding fees, which is notably lower than the average £36,000 (€42,800) annual cost for UK boarding schools.

The school has launched online advertising campaigns specifically targeting UK families affected by the tax increase.

Social media ads state that at just over €20,000 per year, their boarding fees are "substantially lower than UK boarding fees" yet their grounds, facilities and results are "on par" with some of the top UK boarding schools.

The school also highlights the ease of access from major UK cities, noting that it is just a 30 to 40-minute drive from Dublin Airport, which is "well-connected" to London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham.

The decision to advertise directly to the UK market reflects a broader trend among Irish boarding schools, which are seeking to capitalise on the financial pressures faced by British parents.

Clongowes is not alone in this effort.

Other Irish boarding schools, including The King’s Hospital School and St Columba’s College in Dublin, have also begun targeting UK families through social media and online campaigns.