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Wales Online
10-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Why two top Welsh private schools suddenly and unexpectedly plan to close after decades
Why two top Welsh private schools suddenly and unexpectedly plan to close after decades Oakleigh House has educated children for more than a century and St Clare's for more than 85 years, now both schools propose to shut in the face of uncertain economic times and falling birth rates A lesson at St Clare's School, Porthcawl, which faces closure in December (Image: St Clare's School ) There were warnings it would happened and it has. The news that two private fee paying schools in Wales face closure left staff and pupils in tears and parents shocked. But it was perhaps not such a shock. When the UK and Welsh governments both announced they would impose VAT on school fees coupled with the UK Government's decision to raise National Insurance contributions for all employers, those running independent schools warned it could only mean some would have to close. Now Cognita, owner of St Clare's School in Porthcawl and Oakleigh House in Swansea, proposes to close those schools at the end of December 2025 . For more than a century Oakleigh House has weathered recessions, war and uncertain times and St Clare's more than 85 years. Porthcawl Mayor Cllr Jeff Perren described the proposed loss of St Clare's School as "a blow to the town and community". He, along with others said it was a "sign of the financial climate." You can read more about independent schools and VAT here and here Cognita, which runs schools across the UK and internationally, said a review showed the two it runs in Wales, Oakleigh and St Clare's, were no longer viable in the current economic and demographic climate. It blamed uncertain financial times, falling local birth rates and a decline in numbers of pupils. "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," saaid Paul Norton, director of the Welsh Independent Schools Council and headteacher/owner of Kings Monkton School in Cardiff (Image: Kings Monkton School ) Article continues below For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Cognita said the decision was not a reflection of the academic succes of either school. It said St Clare's, which delivers strong GCSE and A level results, provides an "excellent educational environment". Oakleigh House says on its website that more than half of its pupils achieved above average in English and maths in assessments, conducted in British Curriculum Schools worldwide, last year. It is not just VAT and NI that have caused worrying economic times for private schools. Families are feeling the pinch and fewer may be able to afford to pay for their children's education. 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. Oakleigh, the only independent prep (primary) school in Swansea, takes children from two and a half to 11 years. Fees there range from £3,736 a term for reception to £4,492 a term for children in year six, its website shows. Schools could choose not to pass on VAT imposed on fees to parents to make savings, but reduce income. But at the same same time unavoidable costs, such as energy bills and staff wages have risen. If they cut costs by reducing their curriculum or activities they risk becoming uncompetititve - so it is hard for independent schools to make savings when confronted with rising outgoings. Paul Norton, director of the Welsh Independent Schools Council, who owns and runs Kings Monkton School in Cardiff, said the aftermath of the pandemic has also fed into crisis. Day schools are also especially vulnerable as they rely on the local domestic market and cannot tap into the wider, and often more affluent UK and international market which boarding schools can. This is a local and national economic situation caused by government policies going back years as well as the pandemic. "Small independent schools in Wales did exceptionally well with providing continuous education through Covid," said Mr Norton, "This required significant investment in a time when pupil numbers dropped due to parents losing work, relocating or working from home. Coming out of Covid the cost of living crisis and annual rise in national living wage compounded these issues. "National Insurance, VAT and business rates have added further pressure. In Wales, compared to England, there is little choice for parents to make the best educational decisions for their children and the closure of small independent school that serve the local community and children eradicates this choice further. It is damaging to education in Wales and to children "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. Generally, these schools do not take in international pupils or boarders as they specifically support the local area and children. "The Labour policy of VAT completely misunderstands this set up and targets such small schools set up with increased costs of VAT, coupled with the removal of charitable business rates relief, and National Insurance increases. The results are that children suffer, and the educational landscape of Wales becomes a one size fits all, and if you don't fit then your only choice is the unregulated home or online tuition market. This puts children at even more risk. "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." St Clare's School, with its extensive grounds, is in the middle of a housing area and would be attractive to developers, warns town mayor Cllr Jeff Perren Critics of the government's NI policy for fee paying schools have pointed out that this blanket approach is unfair and a threat to business as well as potentially adding strain to already hard pressed maintained state schools if pupils from the independent sector seek alternative places there. Mr Norton estimates that around 6,000 children and teenagers are educated in fee paying schools around Wales and some of those may well seek places in local authority schools, perhaps among them the 150 at St Clare's and those at Oakleigh - neither school would confirm their pupil numbers but parents estimated St Clare's to have around 150 compared to 250 before the pandemic. Cllr Perren said that in the absence of any other local independent school those leaving St Clare's may well head for Porthcawl's maintained schools. St Clare's announcement is very sudden. I know the children will have to find other schools," the town's mayor said, "that's it now for private schools in Porthcawl - St John's also went a few years ago." Pupils at St Clare's (Image: St Clare's School, Porthcawl ) The mayor was unsure whether the local maintained primary and secondary schools have spaces and acknowledged there are differing views on fee paying education. "I know private schools split communities and views but to be honest they are valuable as an option. It is not just about millionaires, that's a bit of a fallacy. "Schools like St Clare's provide wrap around care for working parents and can be not much more expensive than paying for after school care (for working parents with children in state education). It is a servcie and there are a lot of people in Porthcawl who travel out of the town for work." He is also worried what will become of the St Clare's site. Its grounds are in the middle of a housing are and would be attractive to developers. "The site is surrounded by housing and it is doubteful anyone else would take it over as a school," the mayor said, "In planning terms it is an in-fill site. It is sad for the town it really is. There are recreational areas there and it would be good if the site was used for something other than housing." Oakleigh House School, Swansea has announced plans to shut in December 2025 Meanwhile in Swansea another private school, previosuly run by Cognita and now run by trustees, has said it has capacity to take children from St Clare's and Oakleigh. Ffynone House School, which takes children from age 11 up, said it was even considering re-opening primary provision. A science lesson at Ffynone House School in Swansea Ffynone House trustee Pini Patel said: "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." So one school's loss may be another school's gain in the changing economic landscape with falling birth rates and uncertain times ahead. Article continues below
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
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. "
Gulf Today
04-03-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
British curriculum schools in Dubai announce timings during Ramadan
The British Curriculum Schools in Dubai have announced adjustments to the school day timings during the Holy Month of Ramadan, in line with the needs of the Holy Month and to alleviate pressure on both teachers and students. According to the circulars distributed to parents and obtained by Al Khaleej newspaper, the Foundation Stage 1 and 2 (FS) will start at 8:30am. and end at 1:00pm, while the secondary stage will start at 8:30am. and end at 1:30pm and the primary stage timings will be adjusted to start at 8:30am and end at 1:15pm. The schools have also announced that on Fridays, the timings for the Foundation Stage (Year 2 - FS1) will start at 7:55am and end at 11:50am, while the timings for grades 3 to 13 will continue until 12:00pm. The Administration of the schools said that the adjustment of timings is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the well-being of students and teachers during the Holy Month, aiming to strike a balance between study commitments and the needs of Ramadan. It is worth noting that there are approximately 144,300 students studying in the British Curriculum Schools in Dubai.
