A historic independent school, once crowned the “best in Britain” by Tatler, has blamed Labour’s tax reforms for its shock decision to close after 137 years of operation.
St Anselm’s School in Bakewell, Derbyshire, informed parents this week that it will shut its doors at the end of the academic year, citing the “unrelenting headwinds” caused by the Labour Government’s taxation policies.
The school pointed to Labour’s controversial 20 per cent VAT levy on private school fees, introduced in January, alongside the upcoming increase in National Insurance contributions next month and the loss of business rates relief as key factors in its closure.
Paul Houghton, chair of the board of governors told the Telegraph: “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 located in the heart of the Peak District, has recently seen a sharp decline in student numbers. Currently, the school has 125 pupils, down from 150 last year.
The school was forced to increase its fees by nearly £4,000 in January, a 16 per cent rise, following Labour’s decision to impose VAT on private education. This move, school officials say, has made it increasingly difficult to attract new pupils, contributing to its closure.
Former Derbyshire Dales MP Sarah Dines condemned the government’s policy, calling the school’s closure a “real loss” to the region. 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 closure is a dramatic fall from grace for St Anselm’s, which was awarded the prestigious title of Prep School of the Year at the Tatler Schools Awards in 2021. The accolade recognised the school’s commitment to ensuring pupils were not left behind during the Covid pandemic and its efforts in expanding its boarding facilities.
St Anselm’s is not the only private school struggling in the wake of Labour’s tax policies. In the same week, Buxlow Preparatory School in Wembley announced it was closing its primary school to focus exclusively on nursery provision.
Ministers have admitted that the VAT policy could lead to more than 100 independent schools shutting down over the next three years.
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