This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Confirmation the Carrdus School will close
20/12/2024
The Chair of Governors says government decisions “have forced the closure of a very special school”
Governors of the Carrdus School have confirmed the school will close in July at the end of this academic year. The Labour government’s decisions to add VAT to independent school fees, the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions and removing charitable business rates relief for private schools have been blamed.
In November it was announced the Carrdus School could close from the end of the spring term next year, but the governors were hoping to find a new owner. That hasn’t happened, but an option has been found to enable children to stay until the end of the school year.
Whilst there was no interest in taking on the school as a going concern a number of offers have been made to purchase the site.
The Carrdus School is an independent school, based at Banbury Lane near to Overthorpe. It is attended by just over 100 pupils aged 3-11 years.
Following the government’s announcement of the introduction of VAT on school fees a number of parents told the school they would be withdrawing their child as they were unable to absorb the extra cost. That, alongside the impact of employer National Insurance Contribution increases and changes to charitable relief on business rates, put huge pressure on the school’s finances.
Alison Darling, Chair of Governors, said: “It is deeply regrettable that the Government’s decisions to add VAT to independent school fees, remove charitable business rates relief and increase employers’ national insurance contributions have forced the closure of a very special school that has provided a great education to generations of children. We have not been able to simply absorb these financial pressures, as the Government had suggested we should.
“Our sincere hope had been that we could attract a viable bid to take the school on as a going concern. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of many, we have not received an offer of this type.
“This means that the closure of the school is confirmed. However, we have been able to secure a short-term solution that means Carrdus will continue to operate until the end of the summer term. This will allow the current cohort of children to complete the school year here.
“We will now assess all offers we have received for the sale of the site extremely carefully and will announce a decision on this in due course. Our focus will also continue to be on supporting the Carrdus families secure places for their children at other schools, and on supporting staff whose employment will end in July. We would like to thank all colleagues for the outstanding service they have given Carrdus, and all parents and pupils for their support of the school.”
The Carrdus School is owned by Tudor Hall School, which is unaffected by the announcement.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam