10-05-2025
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 )
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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.
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