Historic school where Queen Elizabeth II first learned to ride a horse to permanently close

A historic independent school in Northamptonshire where the late Queen Elizabeth II first learned to ride horses has confirmed it will permanently shut its doors on July 10.

Pitsford School, which educates approximately 200 children between the ages of four and 18, blamed the Government's introduction of VAT on private school fees alongside mounting economic pressures for its closure.

The institution operates from Pitsford Hall, a Grade II-listed property that once belonged to George Drummond, head of Drummond Bank and associate of Edward VIII.

During the early 20th century, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother frequently visited the estate with their daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

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The school has previously noted with pride that the young princesses mastered horsemanship on the front lawn of the Hall.

Dr Craig Walker, the school's headmaster, stated that the decision came only after "exhausting every possible option to secure the school."

He described Pitsford as a "deliberately small" institution that had ultimately succumbed to "external economic pressures" stemming from Government policy changes.

"The introduction of VAT on school fees, the removal of business rates relief, increases in the National Living Wage, higher interest rates, and wider economic uncertainty have all placed significant pressure on independent schools across the country," Dr Walker said.

The headmaster added that these combined challenges had rendered an already demanding operating environment considerably more difficult.

Governors conducted a thorough examination of costs, implementing substantial restructuring and spending reductions.

The school also pursued potential partners, buyers, and merger possibilities, with Dr Walker noting that pressures facing the independent sector were "unprecedented."

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The timing of the announcement drew particular criticism from families.

One comment on the school's Facebook page described the news as "sad," noting that "telling people with three weeks' notice before the end of term, children are very upset."

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch launched a fierce attack on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, branding her a "spiteful class warrior" for abolishing the historic VAT exemption and imposing a 20 per cent rate on private school fees.

Mrs Badenoch accused the Education Secretary of having "taxed private schools to pay for more teachers but the number of teachers has gone down."

The Tory leader claimed the policy had "displaced" 40,000 pupils through closures or parents being priced out.

Responding to the criticism to the BBC, Ms Phillipson remained defiant: "Next time you see me, I'll be wearing a T-shirt saying 'spiteful class warrior' because if being a spiteful class warrior means lifting half a million children out of poverty I'll be wearing that T-shirt with pride."

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