The Week Ahead Updates and Communication for Parents

The appeal against the government’s VAT policy is scheduled at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday 20th – Wednesday 21st January 2026. Please join us in praying for:

• • Religious Liberty: For a victory that reinforces the freedom for families to educate children according to faith and conscience.
  • The Most Vulnerable: That the burden on modest-income, SEND, and military families is recognized.
  • Justice: For the judges to discern the true implications and motivations of this policy.

• Our representing BCS family, the Whites - who will be there, and who have been part of the fight against VAT

Learn More: VAT on Schools Challenge | Permission to Appeal News

Fantastic opportunities for students to work with Google experts via Zoom (outside school hours).

• Years 7-9 (First Step): Want to be a YouTuber? | Wed 28th Jan, 4:30 pm | Register here
• Years 10-13 (Next Step): Google & Gen Z: Pixel 10 Launch | Thu 29th Jan, 5:00 pm | Register here
• Resources: Download the promotional poster here.

Weekly Activity:

• Every Wednesday: Rackets Club (Upper School), 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Badminton, table tennis, and pickleball with Mrs March & Mr Kwon.

Coming Up:

• Wed 21st Jan: Barcelona Trip Parents' Meeting, 7:00 – 8:00 pm (Mrs Garcia).
• Thu 5th Feb: Y9/10 Practice DofE Walk (Mr Kwon).
• Fri 6th Feb – Fri 27th Feb: Year 11 Mock Exams (Excl. half term). Queries to Mr Prothero.
• Wed 18th Feb: Dear England Theatre Production (Mrs Taylor).
• Mon 23rd – Fri 27th Feb: Barcelona Trip (Years 9 & 10).
• Mon 2nd – Tue 3rd March: Year 11 Residential (Mrs March).
• Tue 10th March: Year 11 Parents' Evening (Mock result review).
• Wed 11th March: Teacher Training Day – School closed for students.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: CST Office <Office@christianschoolstrust.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2026 at 10:54
Subject: CST - Prayer points for the upcoming VAT Case

Dear Head teacher & NDT,

With the upcoming VAT case, Steve Beegoo has written some specific prayer points (see below) which he thought you would find helpful to use to pray into the situation. You can read more about the background to the case in this article https://christianconcern.com/news/schools-win-permission-to-appeal-governments-vat-policy/

• The VAT case appeal is scheduled to be heard in the Court of Appeal from Tuesday 20^th to Wednesday 21^st January 2026 at the Royal Courts of Justice, London.
• Pray that there would be strong victory for religious liberty and educational choice which would result in a reversal of the VAT imposition, reinforcing the freedom for families to educate children according to faith and conscience, and uphold the longstanding principle that education should not be taxed
• Pray that the appeal would highlight the burden this policy places on the most vulnerable - families on modest incomes, those with SEND children, and military families - helping preserve their right to choose a Christ-centred education.
• Give thanks for CST schools which provide a distinctively Christian education, and that God would protect these faithful school leaders and their schools from the threat of closure as a result of the VAT policy
• That there would be justice, and that the judges will be able to discern true implications and motivations of this policy
• Pray for excellent media coverage, particularly with the demonstration outside the court on the morning of Tuesday 20^th, which would help facilitate a wider debate on the issues at stake

You can also read more about and watch videos about the case here:

https://christianconcern.com/cccases/vat-on-schools-challenge/

https://christianconcern.com/news/government-to-face-judicial-review-from-christian-schools-over-vat-tax-raid/

https://thecritic.co.uk/the-private-school-exodus-dwarfs-treasury-predictions/

With every blessing,

Therese

On behalf of Steve Beegoo