Independent school closes over financial pressures

One of the oldest independent nursery and primary schools in West Sussex has closed suddenly in the summer holidays, citing "financial pressures".

Sompting Abbotts, a school founded in 1921 and teaches about 100 children aged between two and 13, announced its closure shortly after the end of the school year.

It previously occupied a 30-acre site near Lancing, but its principal cited the introduction of VAT on school fees and the "general economic climate" among reasons for the closure.

Principal David Sinclair said: "We have explored numerous options to keep the school open in September, but financial pressures have become too great."

Sinclair added: "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."

As the school year ended last month, 98 pupils were enrolled, slightly above half of the school's 180-pupil capacity.

Teaching agency Masterclass Education said that it had been "contacted by various staff from the school who are desperate to be able to secure work for September".

It added that the short-term nature of the closure meant it would have "quite a financial impact" for some staff.

VAT was added to school fees in January 2025, which Keir Starmer's government said would raise £1.8bn a year by 2029/30.

The funds raised would help pay for more teachers at state schools in England, it added.

Changes have been criticised by some private schools who said the change, paired with changes to national insurance (NI) and an end to charitable business rates relief, had been a "triple whammy" for the establishments.

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