English school abruptly closes leaving hundreds of children without school places ‘despite every effort’

AN ENGLISH school has abruptly closed, leaving hundreds of children without places for September. The prep school, which teaches students aged between three and 11, will not reopen next month or accept any new pupils. The school was first founded in 1965 and is located near Epping Forest Credit: PA The school has closed for good, leaving children without a place for September Credit: Avon House School Avon House Preparatory School in Woodford Green, Essex, has now shuttered for good. Parents were sent an email on August 4, confirming that it would no longer be open, according to Essex Live. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “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. Google reviews for the school, first founded in 1965 and located near Epping Forest, also show that it is now permanently closed. The private school, which charges up to £17,895 a year for students to attend, fell into financial trouble. Labour has imposed a 20 per cent VAT on 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. Earlier this week, it was also confirmed that Sompting Abbotts, will close for good after the end of the academic year. Most read in The Sun The school was founded in 1921 on a 30-acre site near Lancing, and consists of around 100 pupils, aged between two and 13. At the start of the year, Rendcomb College, also confirmed it could no longer remain open, bringing an end to 106-year education history. The Sun has approached Avon House Preparatory School for comment. Comment now