Two more private schools forced to close blame Labour's VAT raid - leaving 'heartbroken' parents struggling to find places elsewhere

Published: 20:06, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 20:20, 8 August 2026 Two historic private schools have blamed Labour's VAT tax raid after both were forced to close their doors. Avon House School in Essex and Sompting Abbots Prep School in West Sussex have both announced they will not reopen in September. It comes as 30,000 fewer pupils are now enrolled in private schools across the country since Labour came into power – with 20,000 leaving in the past year. Labour originally said the sector would shrink by only 37,000 pupils in the long run as a result of the policy – but this may now prove an underestimate. The Avon House School has closed after more than 100 years in operation. A spokesman for the Prep School also said the rise in National Insurance and pension costs had led to the closure. In a similar statement, the principal of Sompting Abbots additionally blamed the general economic climate. The abrupt closure of both schools has led to parents struggling to find places for their children in the respective areas. The historic Sompting Abbotts has been educating pupils since George V was on the throne A statement on Avon House's website read: 'It is with much sadness that we are announcing the closure of the school with immediate effect. 'We have explored a number of options to try and save the school from closure, but in recent days it became obvious that it was not meant to be.  'The school has struggled with financial pressures including the introduction of VAT on school fees and the rise in NI and pension costs. 'We have always put our pupils at the heart of school life both academically and pastorally under the banner of "Celebrating and supporting every child" and we know that many pupils who have journeyed through our school have gone on to great success. 'We wish all our pupils and families the best for the future as they embrace new schools in the locality.' Sompting Abbots has been educating pupils since 1921, when George V was on the throne. And it has been run by the Sinclair family since 1946. David Sinclair became the school's principal following the death of his mother Patricia in January.  Mr Sinclair told The Telegraph: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the closure of our wonderful school, which was founded in 1921. 'We have explored numerous options to keep the school open in September, but financial pressures have become too great, including the introduction of VAT on school fees and the general economic climate. 'The declining roll has exacerbated the already challenging times that we have been experiencing – the VAT on fees, increased living wage and national insurance contributions, significant pension contributions and reduced birth rate always affects us. The predicted roll in September is so low, we cannot contemplate continuing to trade and we have been forced into administration.' He said the school had explored every option to stay open, but was unable to secure a merger.  Data from the annual January census of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents the majority of private schools, showed that pupil numbers in private schools are down by 6.6 per cent in some year groups. There are fewer families choosing to enrol at the start of primary, prep school or sixth form – suggesting it is the new starters that are being deterred. Avon House Preparatory School has been forced to close as a result of Labour's tax raid Pupils fell across all areas but the biggest regional decline was in Scotland, where the reduction was 5.6 per cent. This was followed by Wales with 6 per cent and the North East with 6.4 per cent. Direct comparison of schools that completed the survey in 2026 and 2025 showed the biggest proportional drops were at the start of sixth form and primary Year 1. Primaries and preps showed a larger overall fall in numbers – 5 per cent – than secondaries up to GCSE year, which saw a fall of 3.3 per cent. Numbers starting sixth form in Year 12 fell by 6.6 per cent – the largest decrease – while the smallest declines were for Year 11 and Year 13, which are the GCSE and A-level exam years. ISC chief executive Julie Robinson said: 'This year's census shows a significant fall in pupil numbers across independent schools. 'Behind these figures are families facing difficult financial decisions and schools working hard to preserve the opportunities, expertise and support that parents value. 'While independent schools remain resilient, these trends demonstrate that policy decisions can have real consequences for families' educational choices.'  Earlier this year one of the UK's only Jewish private schools announced its closure after 36 years. Immanuel College in Bushey was intended to be a flagship for Jewish education in the UK when it opened in 1990. However, with rising costs and just 360 pupils on its roll, governors were forced to close the school for good.