A private boarding school that charges £ 33,000 a year and was attended by the British astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees, is the last to be forced to close after the Bombshell VAT plans from Labor.
Bedstone College in Buckknell, Shropshire, founded by the parents of the prominent astrophysicist, will close at the end of the academic year, whereby the school blames the VAT rise for a letter sent to the parents yesterday.
The closure of the 77-year-old school, also attended by Omroep and Mariene biologist Monty Halls was that boy, costs 50 jobs and disrupts 120 students.
Robert Tasker, the chairman of the school's board, said that VAT was 'last nail in the coffin'.
The Co-Educational School, which charges on board students £ 10,920 per period, increased its costs for international students in September and reduced them for British students, after Labor's VAT changes.
Director Toby Mullins said that VAT on reimbursements and the increase in the national insurance contributions of the employer had added 'further pressure' to finance, but emphasized that they were not the 'main cause'.
“In the past five years, the school has been supported by significant financial contributions from the owner, who are deeply committed to his success,” the main teacher wrote.
“Despite these efforts, however, it has become clear that the school is not financially viable in the long term.”
The British astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees went to Bedstone College, which was founded by his parents
Bedstone College in Buckknell, Shropshire, will close at the end of the academic year, with the school that blames the VAT rise for a letter sent to the parents yesterday
The closure of the 77-year-old school costs 50 jobs and disrupts 120 students
The Co-Educational School, which charges on board students £ 10,920 per period, increased its costs for international students in September and reduced them for British students, after Labor VAT changes
“Although the upcoming VAT on school costs and the rise in national insurance has added further pressure, this is not the cause of our closure – it's just the last challenge in what has already been an untenable situation.”
He said that “no immediate changes are needed,” but the school would soon collect information about available places for students in other places.
“Our priority is to help students pass smoothly so that they can continue to study their chosen courses, preferably on the same syllabuses.”
A parent said they were 'shellshocked' due to the approaching closure
Post on social media, they said: 'Shellshocked does not cover it. My child is autistic without an explanation [of special educational needs]So we financed ourselves. State was secondary [an] From the disaster – she felt safe and happy here, the alternative will be so expensive. '
Shropshire -councilor Nigel Hartin said: 'This is very sad news, quite a shock. The school has been prominent in the local community for many years and has employed a number of local people.
'At a practical level, Bedstone School is currently delivering school dinners of good quality at cost price for our primary school – St Marys Buckknell.
“The closure of the school will be felt sharply at a number of levels.”
Director Toby Mullins (photo) said that VAT on reimbursements and the increase in the national insurance contributions of the employer had added 'further pressure' to finance, but emphasized that they were not the 'main cause'
Robert Tasker, the chairman of the school's board, said that VAT was 'last nail in the coffin'
Stuart Anderson MP, the conservative MP for South Shropshire, said: “[I am] Fixed to hear about this fantastic school that closes its doors at the end of the year. I warned the government in October that rural communities would be struck the most difficult due to this measure and that it would be the smaller schools that would be affected. '
The school previously reduced its costs for day students from £ 5,700 to £ 4,000 per period in response to VAT increases.
The move was made to ensure that current students stay at school and that the school offers an affordable option for parents who are looking for a new school, who are priced elsewhere from the market, “the school said.
In November 2023, the independent school had 156 students, but only 120 remained at the start of this school year.
Bedstone College has been the last in a wave of closures since Rachel Reeves announced the tax attack of Labor on private education.
In January, 114-year-old Maidwell Hall School in Northamptonshire, attended by Earl Spencer, that it would close his doors after it had received further strokes after the November budget.
In addition to the VAT walk, private schools in England with a charity status will also be stripped of their 80 percent business rates lighting from April.
Loughborough Amherst School – who started in 1850 – is another recently victim of the economic headwind with which the sector is confronted, in addition to other institutions in Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire and Scotland.
