Prep school once named ‘best in Britain' by Tatler to close over VAT raid
A 137-year-old prep school once hailed as the 'best in Britain' by Tatler has been forced to close as a result of Labour's VAT raid.
St Anselm's School in Bakewell, Derbyshire, told parents this week it would shut at the end of the academic year because of the 'unrelenting headwinds we face' under the Labour Government.
As well as the controversial 20pc levy on school fees introduced in January, the school cited the upcoming increases to National Insurance contributions next month as well as the loss of business rates relief.
Paul Houghton, chair of the board of governors, said: 'We have simply been left with no alternative.
'Despite our best efforts it has proved difficult to secure a viable future given the headwinds we face.
'We are deeply upset to have reached the point where there are no viable options for St Anselm's as an independent prep school.'
The day and boarding school, founded in 1888, and situated in the heart of the Peak District, has struggled in recent years to attract new pupils.
There are currently 125 pupils at the school, a decrease from 150 last year. As recently as 2020 it had more than 200 pupils.
The difficulty in attracting new pupils came as it was forced to increase its fees by almost £4,000, a rise of 16pc, in January as a result of Labour's decision to levy VAT on education for the first time.
Sarah Dines, the former MP for Derbyshire Dales, described the school's closure as a 'real loss'.
She said: 'I am not only sad, but angry, that this socialist government seems intent on destroying the independent school sector, part of their ideological attack on the freedom of choice of parents. This is a real loss to Bakewell and Derbyshire Dales.'
The sharp turnaround in the school's fortunes comes after it was crowned Prep School of the Year at the Tatler Schools Awards in 2021.
The prestigious title was awarded in recognition of the school's commitment to make sure children were not left behind during the Covid pandemic and work it had completed to expand its boarding house.
St Anselm's closure comes in the same week as Buxlow Preparatory School in Wembley announced it was closing its school to focus on solely providing nursery provision.
The school has framed the decision as an 'exciting new chapter' that will allow its current pupils to join its nearby sister school.
Ministers have admitted the VAT levy will force an additional 100 private schools to close over the next three years.
A government spokesman said: 'Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8bn a year by 2029/30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94pc of children in state schools to achieve and thrive.
'On average, around 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year. This is due to a range of reasons, including financial struggles and school standards issues.
'Local authorities and schools commonly support children and parents in these circumstances. We are confident in local state schools' ability to accommodate new pupils.'
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