One of Britain’s oldest schools closes unexpectedly in the middle of the summer holidays due to ‘financial pressures’

A HISTORIC nursery and prep school has announced its sudden closure after 105 years in operation. The West Sussex establishment cited “financial pressures” as it confirmed it will not be reopening in September. Sompting Abbotts in West Sussex has announced its sudden closure after 105 yearsCredit: Refer to source The school had almost 100 students enrolled at the end of the academic year (stock image) Credit: Getty Sompting Abbotts, one of the oldest independent schools in the area, announced its permanent closure after the end of the academic year. The school was founded in 1921 on a 30-acre site near Lancing, and consists of around 100 pupils, aged between two and 13. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! 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. “We know that we have provided our pupils with an excellent rounded education over many years, and we wish our pupils the very best in the future.” According to the teaching agency Masterclass Education, staff from the school have already been in contact as they are “desperate to be able to secure work for September”. The agency said the sudden nature of the closure will have “quite a financial impact” for staff members. VAT was added to school fees in January 2025, a move that was expected to raise £1.8billion a year by 2029/30. Most read in The Sun The government earmarked these funds for additional teacher salaries at state schools across England. Comment now