All the schools that WON’T reopen in September including Britain’s smallest primary – as hundreds left without places

HUNDREDS of children are set to be left without a place for September following the closure of a number of schools. The scramble is on for parents to track down a spot for their child after certain schools across Essex, West Sussex and the Cotswolds won’t reopen. The school was first founded in 1965 and is located near Epping Forest Credit: PA It comes as Labour has imposed a 20 per cent VAT on private school fees since Janu­ary 2025, adding extra financial strain to many of these educational institutions. The move is expected to raise £1.8billion a year by 2029/30, but has hit private schools hard. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! As a result, a number have had to shut down as they can no longer afford to keep running. In other instances, a lack of pupils has also meant it no longer sustainable for schools to keep running. Avon House Preparatory School The school has closed for good, leaving children without a place for September Credit: Avon House School The school in Woodford Green, Essex, confirmed this month that it would no longer be open come September. An email sent to attendees read: “Despite every effort to secure a sustainable future for the school, including exploring opportunities for investment, merger and sale, it has not been possible to find a financially viable way forward,” it read. The private school, which charges up to £17,895 a year for students to attend, fell into financial trouble. Rendcomb College Rendcomb College, open for 106 years, is being forced to close due to Labour’s VAT hikes Credit: Alamy This 106-year-old school warned back in January that it would close for good this summer. Most read in The Sun At the time, bosses at the institution blamed the “economic situation facing independent schools across the country”. In a statement on the school’s website, a spokesman said: “The staff and governors have done everything to make Rendcomb College an excellent school, and its closure is highly unfortunate but sadly unavoidable. “This is a very sad decision to have taken and follows the exploration of every other feasible option, including mergers and other forms of funding.” Sompting Abbotts Sompting Abbotts in West Sussex has announced its sudden closure after 105 yearsCredit: Refer to source This school was founded in 1921 on a 30-acre site near Lancing, and consists of around 100 pupils, aged between two and 13. However, it has now said it won’t reopen in September due to “financial pressures”. At the time, Principal David Sinclair explained that the introduction of VAT on school fees alongside the “general economic climate” had resulted in the closure. “We have explored numerous options to keep the school open in September, but financial pressures have become too great,” he said. Ysgol Y Garreg school The school had 17 pupils two years ago Credit: Unknown The UK’s smallest primary school won’t reopen in September as it does not have enough pupils to join. Ysgol Y Garreg school in the 2,000-population Welsh village of Penrhyndeudraeth has slumped from 17 pupils just two years ago. And it warned back in July, that it had no new younger pupils to join its classes. Ruthin School Ruthin School in North Wales will be closing after the end of this school year Credit: Daily Post Wales This historic school in North Wales, which dates back over 700 years, won’t reopen in September after it appointed administrators earlier this year. A spokesperson for Galaxy Global Education, previously said: “Despite every effort to secure the school’s future, it has not been possible to establish a financially viable way forward, and the company will enter administration following the end of term. “Our immediate priority is supporting pupils, families and staff through this transition, including helping pupils move to new schools and ensuring examination-year students continue to receive the support they need. “We are deeply grateful to our staff for their professionalism and dedication, and profoundly sorry that we have reached this point.” Malvern St James The school in Worcestershire revealed earlier this year that it would not reopen in September Credit: SWNS:South West News Service This fee paying school in Worcestershire revealed earlier this year that it would not reopen in September. A statement from the group said: “Over a number of years, and despite sustained efforts by the school to secure its future, Malvern St James has experienced a significant and continuing decline in pupil numbers. “This has been driven by a combination of national and local factors. “Nationally, the introduction of VAT on school fees and increased employment costs have placed considerable pressure on the independent sector. “Locally, the small class sizes and highly individualised education that are so valued by our parents and pupils mean that the school’s current model has become increasingly difficult to sustain.” Stoke College The private school was forced to close down due to financial troubles Credit: Unknown This fee paying school warned back in June that it would not be able to reopen come September. The school in Stoke-by-Clare had been operating since 1952, but had to close due to facing financial problems. “The school will not operate beyond the end of the summer term and does not intend to reopen for the 2026–27 academic year,” a statement from the group read.” Comment now