A CLAIM by a Reform Party councillor up to 60 pupils could quit Wales’ leading independent school over VAT on fees has been denied.

Reform Party councillor Stuart Keyte stated the figure when councillors were updated on the education service their local authority is responsible for.

Cllr Keyte said the UK Labour government’s policy that introduced VAT on private school fees from January is making independent schools unaffordable for many parents and highlighted Rougemont School on the boundary of Newport and Torfaen as an example, predicting it will lead to increased demand for school places in the borough.

The school, which is described on its website as “Wales’ leading independent school” and caters for children from age three through to sixth form, has said it is seeing no such trend.

Cllr Keyte claimed at Torfaen Borough Council’s April meeting: “Rougemont School is projecting up to 60 pupils will leave and go to state school education and the two that are closest are Croesyeciliog and Fairwater (sic).”

The former Fairwater School is now named Cwmbran High and both it and Croesyceiliog are in Torfaen.

He added: “Croesyceiliog recently came out of special........

© South Wales Argus