Top private girls’ school announces closure following Labour’s tax raid on fees
A top girls’ private school is the latest to announce its closure following Labour’s controversial tax raid on the sector.
Alderley Edge Girls’ School in Cheshire will close this July, citing ‘unprecedented cost pressures, including the introduction of VAT on school fees’.
The school, which educates 400 girls aged between two and 18, is the alma mater of former Tory special adviser Charlotte Owen, who became the youngest person to have a life partner at 30.
It was founded in 1999 following the merger of two other schools, one of which dates back to 1876.
Fees currently at secondary school are £19,461 per year, including more than £3,000 VAT.
A letter to parents about the move published by the Manchester Evening News said other contributing factors besides VAT were ‘the removal of business rates relief, higher employer national insurance contributions and increased costs’.
A top girls’ private school is the latest to announce its closure following Labour’s controversial tax raid on the sector (image: Alderley Edge Girls’ School)
The school, which educates 400 girls aged between two and 18, is the alma mater of former Tory special adviser Charlotte Owen (pictured), who became the youngest person to have a life partner at 30.
He also noted that the birth rate locally has fallen and demand has decreased.
In a notice published online, the school said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that the Board has proposed to close Alderley Edge Girls’ School in July 2026 at the end of the current academic year.
‘This is an extremely difficult message for us to share and we recognize the sadness, shock and uncertainty this will bring to our students, families and staff. This follows extensive efforts in recent years to secure the future of the school in the face of huge financial pressures, a significant decline in pupil numbers and significant sector-wide challenges.’
It has been stated that consultations will now be held on how staff and families can be supported through closure.
“We know this news will be extremely distressing for our community, and we are committed to guiding families and staff through this time with compassion and openness,” he added.
‘We will continue to update and support our community in the coming weeks and throughout this process.’
More than 100 independent schools have closed since January last year when 20 per cent VAT was introduced.
One parent said online: ‘My daughter is in sixth form here, she will be halfway through her A levels when they close.
‘Most of the parents are hard-working professionals who sacrifice their lives to be here. Ruined.”
Another said: ‘Our daughter has been there since she was two and is now in Year 9 and is miserable. This was and still is the most wonderful, nurturing school with truly extraordinary ethics. The parents who send their daughters there are hardworking and self-sacrificing to ensure their daughters have the best start in life. ‘This is an extremely distressing time for everyone affected.’
It is understood that the school, which is affiliated with the Girls’ Schools Association, is considering closing only the preparatory and sixth grades, but this would not provide sufficient cost savings.
It comes as experts predict an “even worse” financial year for private schools in 2026 due to a “compound crisis” caused by Labour’s VAT on fees.
Landwood Group, which advises the independent sector on restructuring, said school leaders expected a further fall in pupil numbers when they received enrollment numbers at Easter.
The amount of deposits schools will receive from new joiners ahead of the Easter holidays will be the ‘canary in the coal mine’ for the coming financial distress, the chartered surveyor firm said.
Additionally, families already in school will need to notify by Easter if they want to remove their children from school this fall.
To make sure their budgets are solid, Landwood coaches presidents to prepare for the worst-case scenario of a 30 percent drop in enrollment.
He believes dozens more private schools are at risk of going under this year.
Labor said the tax on school fees, a manifesto pledge, was needed to improve the public sector, including 6,500 new teachers for schools.
But critics accused ministers of waging a ‘class war’ and questioned how much difference the measure would actually make to public finances.
