Second private school in Wales faces closure as pupil numbers fall
Second private school in Wales faces closure as pupil numbers fall
Oakleigh House School in Swansea proposed to shut its doors after more than a century
Oakleigh House School, Swansea
A second private school in Wales has announced plans to shut. The news from Oakleigh House Primary in Swansea comes after St Clare's School in Porthcawl said it proposes to close at the end of December. Both schools are run by education company Cognita UK which blamed financial pressures.
The news, which parents said came as a shock, follows warnings about the future of fee-paying schools after VAT was imposed on top of increased employer National Insurance contributions.
Cognita said in a statement: "This week we shared some difficult news with our families and staff about the proposal to close Oakleigh House School.
"We carried out a comprehensive review of the school's sustainability in light of local demographic trends and a changing economic environment, which sadly concluded that pupil numbers are expected to continue to fall to an unsustainable level in the next academic year. We will do everything we can to support our families and staff and help our current pupils find alternative school places should the decision be taken to close."
It is understood the date for the proposed closure of Oakleigh House is also December this year.
The school, in the Uplands area of Swansea, has operated for more than 100 years. It is the only independent prep school in the city and takes children from two and a half to 11 years. Fees range from £3,736 a term for reception to £4,492 a term for children in year six.
Article continues below
The school says on its website it commits to "opportunities for every child to reach their full academic and personal potential".
More than half of pupils achieved above average in English and maths in assessments, conducted in British Curriculum Schools worldwide, last year.
Cognita confirmed that Oakleigh and St Clare's are the only schools it runs in Wales. While it proposed to shut St Clare's in December this year it did not confirm a date for Oakleigh's closure.
As the proposed closures were announced another private school in Swansea said that it stood ready to help parents looking for alternatives.
Ffynone House School, which takes children from age 11 up, said it was even considering re-opening primary provision. The school, which was previously run by Cognita, was taken over by trustees around 10 years ago.
Fynnone House School, Swansea
Pini Patel, a parent and trustee, speaking as spokesperson for Fynnone House School, said: "We are shocked and saddened by this news [about Oakleigh House and St Clare's]. This is undoubtedly a difficult time for the pupils, parents, and staff affected by this announcement and our thoughts are very much with them. We aim to support them in any way that we can if these closures do go ahead.
"We have the expertise and capacity to accommodate more students in years seven to 13 and will do everything we can to ease the transition of any pupils from St Clare's to Ffynone House. We are also currently putting the necessary plans in place to reinstate our primary school offering.
"At Ffynone House we are fiercely proud of our independence. All of our trustees have personal links to the school ensuring stability and continuity for our Ffynone family. We remain committed to delivering an outstanding education in a nurturing environment – our future is bright. Our doors are always open and parents and students are welcome to visit us at any time – we are here to help.'
The site was originally St Winefride's Convent School from 1887 to 1966 until it became Ffynone House School in 1975. At this point, up until 2008 when Cognita took over briefly, there was an integrated prep school for years three to six and this could be re-instated, said Mr Patel.
Blaming government imposition of VAT on school fees and increased National Insurance payments Paul Norton, director of the Welsh Independent Schools Council, said there was a risk that any schools shutting would erode confidence in others. This added pressure to the private school sector across Wales.
Mr Norton, who owns and runs Kings Monkton School in Cardiff, said his school is secure. But in his role at WISC he has warned that as many as 19 of Wales' 80 or so fee-paying schools are at risk of closure. He blames this on VAT imposed on fees since January, increased employer National Insurance payments, cost pressures, and increased wages.
Article continues below
"The blanket application of VAT fails to consider the unique role of small independent schools in Wales. These institutions are integral to our communities and policies must reflect their distinct contributions," Mr Norton said.
"Small independent schools of around 250-300 make up the majority of schools within the independent sector and cater for the needs of the local community of children who cannot successfully access mainstream state school for whatever reasons. "
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
37 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Parents confident they can save school after raising £1.3m
Parents confident they can save school after raising £1.3m The money was donated in a matter of weeks after the shock announcement by the owners of St Clare's School in Porthcawl St Clare's School, Porthcawl Parents who send their children to a private school threatened with closure say they're confident they can save it after raising their target £1.3m to do so. The money was donated in a matter of weeks after the shock announcement by the owners of St Clare's School in Porthcawl that they were closing it. Owners Cognita said the school was successful academically but "economic volatility" and "factors beyond our control" meant they would have to shut it at the end of the Christmas term this year. In a letter to parents Cognita also blamed the falling local birth rate. They said projected pupil numbers for next academic year make the school "unsustainable". Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Parents determined to save the school disagree and say they now have a "viable" plan to keep the school open and hopefully in the same location. The building and grounds are owned by the Dalton family which leases them to Cognita, the group said. Natasha Bray, who has two children at the school was speaking on behalf of the campaign to save St Clare's. She said: "We have raised £1.3m which is phenomenal. We have had amazing support from parents and the local community. We have set up a charitable trust and are continuing to explore options." Helen Hier, head teacher of St Clare's School, Porthcawl Article continues below Talks are ongoing with Cognita as well as with Ffynone House, an independent school in Swansea which was also saved by parents. A trust the St Clare's Charitable Trust has been set up to run and manages the campaign funds and plan. "Everyone is still hopeful but with the longer time some parents are getting anxious and some students are leaving. But there are stil a lot of children who want to stay if we can fins a solution," said Natasha. "St Clare's is a fantastic school. It's more than a school, it's a family and a community. Everybody knows each other and children can be here from aged three to 18 so it's their whole young lives. "We are doing everything we can to keep the school open and we are very confident we have everything we need to move forward." In a statement on its website the Save St Clare's Trust said: "On Tuesday 6th May 2025, Cognita UK wrote to parents informing them that due to factors outside their control, they had begun a consultation with the staff about a proposal to close the school in December 2025. "The announcment left parents reeling, some having only started with the school at the beginning of the term or academic year. The news was particularly upsetting for our Year 10 and Year 12 students, who will be left without support for GCSE and A-Level courses not due to be completed until May/June 2026." St Clare's says on its website that it charges fees of between £2,000 and £6,000 a term for children aged from nursery to sixth form. The non-selective school, which is understood to have around 150 pupils, is run by education company Cognita UK, which operates a number of schools across the UK. In her letter announcing the news from St Clare's to parents in May Nicola Lambros, general manager of Cognita, UK said the school would do everything it could to help them find alternative places at a local school for their children should the decision be taken to close. St Clare's has entered into negotiations with staff affected. Ms Lambros said the decision was not a reflection of the school's academic success but of other factors. Article continues below Her letter added: "We recently carried out a full review of the school's sustainability in response to the rapidly-changing environment for independent schools. This included determining the demand for independent school places within the local catchment area both now and in the future. "Sadly the review has concluded that factors outside our control, including the falling local birth rate and economic volatility mean our pupil numbers are projected to be at an unsustainable level next academic year."
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Winter fuel payment: Scottish pensioners could be worse off than those in England and Wales after U-turn
The U-turn was confirmed on Monday by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish pensioners could be worse off than those in England and Wales after the UK government confirmed its U-turn over the winter fuel payment. The Chancellor announced on Monday the payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners who previously received it as anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year will now get the payment automatically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given more detail about the UK government's plans for the winter fuel allowance | PA/The Scotsman However, Scotland has already created a devolved benefit of £100 for all pensioner households, which is less generous than the UK government version, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of Scots worse off than their English and Welsh counterparts. The decision will result in more money being sent to the devolved administration at Holyrood. Scottish Labour has now urged the Government to increase its payments. Rachel Reeves had announced the cut in the first first weeks of the Labour government last summer, prompting an immediate backlash and forcing the Scottish Government to delay the implementation of its own devolved benefit. John Swinney's administration later announced a similar payment for pensioners which would be tapered and see those on the highest incomes receiving £100, compared to £305.10 for those on the least. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane urged the SNP to support Scotland's pensioners. He said: 'The winter fuel payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here. But despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so. 'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires. 'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the decision was 'a betrayal' of pensioners. She said: 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago. But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.' Ms Somerville said the Scottish Government had not been consulted on the decision and urged UK ministers to 'ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible'. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville speaks to MSPs on the Scottish Government's response to the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under equalities law, in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire 'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget,' she said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government's plans were initially to provide a universal payment to pensioners, but the proposals were scuppered by the Chancellor's announcement of the cut last summer, forcing ministers to create a different system for this winter. Ms Reeves said the UK government had 'listened to people's concerns' about the decision to limit the payment to the poorest pensioners last winter, and was now able to widen eligibility because Labour had restored 'stability' to the economy. Ministers have insisted no additional government borrowing will be needed to cover the costs of the reversal, prompting warnings of tax rises on the horizon. Those with an income above the £35,000 threshold will also receive the payment, but it will then be reclaimed from them in tax. To be eligible for the winter fuel allowance, a person will need to have reached state pension age by the week starting September 15 this year. Pensioners who do not want to receive the payment will be able to opt out, according to the Treasury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Writing on social media site X, Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies said: 'The corollary of 'this will not lead to permanent additional borrowing' is that it will lead to permanent additional taxes (or just possibly permanent cuts to other bits of welfare).' No.10 insisted the UK government's manifesto commitment to not raise VAT, income tax or National Insurance remained in place. 'It will be for the Chancellor to set out how this is funded at the Budget', the Prime Minister's official spokesman added. Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Maggie Chapman said: 'There is no doubt that the damage has already been done. Families will have lost loved ones and illnesses will have been caused over the winter months because of the brutal decision by Rachel Reeves and the Labour government. "The reinstatement of the winter fuel payment for some is a welcome move, but we must go further. The Labour government must end the two-child benefit cap. which hits working-class families the hardest, and they must reverse their cruel austerity policies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Poverty isn't inevitable; it's a political policy, a policy which Rachel Reeves has forced upon hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. If Keir Starmer has any shame, he would finally call an end to her disastrous time as Chancellor.' Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Opposition, claimed the Prime Minister had 'scrambled to clear up a mess of his own making'. The Conservative leader said: 'I repeatedly challenged him to reverse his callous decision to withdraw winter fuel payments, and every time Starmer arrogantly dismissed my criticisms. This humiliating U-turn will come as scant comfort to the pensioners forced to choose between heating and eating last winter. 'The Prime Minister should now apologise for his terrible judgment.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'Finally the Chancellor has listened to the Liberal Democrats and the tireless campaigners in realising how disastrous this policy was, but the misery it has caused cannot be overstated. 'Countless pensioners were forced to choose between heating and eating all whilst the Government buried its head in the sand for months on end, ignoring those who were really suffering.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
How Scotland Excel strives for excellence in prudent procurement
It aims to help local councils source whatever they need to deliver high-quality services within their communities, and it focuses on delivering a range of benefits through its procurement services and carefully designed contracts. These benefits include community benefits, climate mitigation and supply chain risk mitigation. Carr explains that councils face a variety of supply chain risks. These can include local issues with potential suppliers' non-compliance with environmental policies to geopolitical instability with, for example, the war in Ukraine. Simply trying to ensure that, given current budgetary constraints, councils maximise the value they get for every pound they spend, is a challenge in its own right. One of the biggest problems faced by councils today concerns dealing with both escalating labour costs and the difficulty of finding appropriately skilled staff in the first place. 'Our portfolio of contracts stretches from the provision of school meals and school materials to new-build housing and the care sector,' Carr says. 'About two-thirds of the value of what we do is service-related, and the rest is goods-related. With council service contracts, labour costs are a huge consideration. The social care sector for example amounts to around 45 percent of all the procurement activity Scotland Excel manages. And within social care, staffing costs amount to 75% of the total contract costs. So, this is a huge area for us.' (Image: Scotland Excel's Head of Strategic Procurement Hugh Carr) Carr points out that there are a whole host of challenges associated with staffing costs, and Scotland Excel works hard to mitigate these challenges and provide solutions. Brexit, he points out, greatly exacerbated staffing problems in Scotland's care sector. A lot of European nationals returned home and that created all kinds of pressure in filling vacancies. More recently, the increases in National Insurance contribution costs have exacerbated the problem. Trying to contain staffing costs while facilitating value-for-money procurement has become a significant challenge. Similarly, in the construction sector, labour costs can easily amount to 50% of the budget, with councils facing the risk of cost overruns. 'What we look to do here at Scotland Excel is to give councils certainty as to the costs they are going to incur, allowing them to plan the staffing levels that they are going to need to fulfil the services they deliver,' Carr explains. Because Scotland Excel works across 32 local authorities, its team of procurement specialists have a very good idea of what the labour component is likely to be on any particular council service offering. 'In this way, we can enhance and sharpen a council's understanding of labour demands in any area. 'Our market research can give a good degree of certainty as to what the labour costs are likely to be in that service area, be it health care or construction. Obviously, with the difficulties in today's post-Brexit labour market, it is important to drive cost controls and diminish the risks of budget overruns,' he comments. Also, by focusing on market indices, Carr's team can adjust its analysis of past labour trends to show what is likely to happen going forward. There is never 100% certainty, he points out. As always, when using historical data to predict future trends, there is a risk that unexpected events, be they driven by market events or geo-political risks, will impact predictability. But this approach goes a long way to de-risking estimates of labour costs. 'If we can support councils by predicting what is likely to happen, they can adjust their buying patterns to fit with what the market is likely to be doing,' he says. Managing inflation risk is another case in point. 'Two years ago, inflation was at its peak, with food inflation running at 17%. This is very disruptive for councils who have to cater for around one and a half million school meals every week. With predictive analysis, we can show which foodstuffs are likely to increase the most in any period. Pre-planning food purchases and adjusting school meal recipes accordingly can have a very significant impact,' he notes. Right now, food price increases are running at around 4% and are increasing, so this is an area that Scotland Excel is watching closely. Inflation has also played havoc with the construction sector. 'Materials supply is much more stable now than it was two years ago. However, this is a sector that can be rapidly impacted by events,' he notes. If anything leads to a widespread delay in building projects being started, it means that the builders' merchants sit with a lot of stock on their shelves. Building materials manufacturers in turn cut back on their production and prices start to move about. Carr points out that this is one of a number of areas where AI tools are likely to be able to add considerable clarity in the near term. 'We are not quite there yet, but AI is known to be very good at taking a whole host of factors into account when doing predictive analysis. It can really improve on human modelling, so we are monitoring developments in this area.' He says Scotland Excel helps councils to understand the likely impact demographic changes in their areas will have on demand across a range of services. This is particularly impactful in the care sector and in council efforts to generate a sustainable care programme across all areas of the country, including the less densely populated regions.
