Private school blames Labour’s tax bomb budget and VAT raid as it announces it is closing down due to ‘unprecedented financial pressures’_Nhy
A private school has blamed Labour’s tax bomb budget and VAT raid after announcing it is closing down due to ‘unprecedented financial pressures’.
Immanuel College Prep School, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, began a consultation into plans to close at the end of the academic year.
Pupils at the £13,632-a-year primary school going into Years One to Five next September will be offered an alternative place at north-west London‘s Kerem School in Hampstead Garden Suburb, a 30-minute drive away.
Meanwhile, children going into Year Six will complete their last year of primary education at the group’s senior school.
Immanuel College Prep School and Kerem School said in a letter to parents that the plans come ‘in response to the growing financial pressures being felt by independent schools and parents alike’.
A consultation on the prospective closure of the prep school will reveal its findings ‘in early 2025’, The Telegraph first reported.
The new Labour government is set to hit private schools with 20 per cent VAT on fees from January 1 next year.
Immanuel College Prep School and Kerem School said in a statement: ‘The introduction of VAT on fees, in addition to the increase in National Insurance and teachers’ pension scheme costs and the removal of business rates relief, has had a significant impact across the independent schools sector.
Immanuel College Prep School (pictured), a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, began a consultation into plans to close at the end of the academic year
‘The two schools, who enjoy a long-standing relationship and share similar values and ethos, have entered into this arrangement in order to safeguard the education of children in the Jewish community.’
Daniel Levy, chairman of governors at Immanuel College, said: ‘The past five years, starting with Covid, through the period of high inflation and now with the addition of VAT to school fees, has created unprecedented financial pressures across our sector.
‘The collaboration with Kerem will ensure that our children have the opportunity to continue receiving an outstanding primary education and the stability they require in these uncertain times.’
Private schools across the UK have hit back at Keir Starmer’s government for rushing through its VAT policy giving them little time to prepare. Many have warned the changes will deal a hammer blow to the schools already struggling.
SEE MORE:
Council chief faces calls to resign after being accused of sending explicit messages to refugees
The leader of one of Scotland’s largest local authorities was last night facing growing calls to resign after Labour suspended him amid a police probe into alleged sexual misconduct.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the situation involving City of Edinburgh Council’s Cammy Day, who reportedly sent Ukrainian refugees explicit messages, was ‘deeply distressing’.
The Holyrood politician insisted his party acted ‘immediately’ after being told of the claims on Saturday.
Mr Day has run a minority administration in Edinburgh since 2022 thanks to Tory and Liberal Democrat support.
But both parties yesterday called for him to stand down as leader.
It followed the Sunday Mail reporting claims by two refugees who came to Edinburgh after fleeing the war in Ukraine that they were pestered by messages from Councillor Day.
One said they received sexually explicit messages via a dating app.
‘I was surprised that a person of such a high position was interested in me, and then I saw him a couple of times at pro-Ukrainian events,’ they said.
Leader of Edinburgh City Council Cammy Day allegedly sent explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees
‘He found and subscribed to me on social media and started liking my stories intensively, sending kissing emojis, especially when I posted gym and pool photos. Every time he wrote to me in the dating app I felt under pressure, afraid to say no or say something wrong.
‘I tried to ignore all his hints about sex or meeting up because I was afraid of his influence and just tried to be polite to avoid any conflict.’
Another told the paper they had received multiple messages through social media and dating sites.
They said: ‘It was too much and I didn’t know how to say I didn’t want him to contact me any more because of his position. It is a bit strange for a council leader to be doing it.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We received a report of inappropriate behaviour. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.’
The force confirmed a report was made about Mr Day earlier this year but no criminality was established.
Lothian Tory MSP Sue Webber said: ‘Cammy Day should step down as leader of the council while these allegations are investigated. There is surely no way he can command the support of the local Labour group, and will be unable to carry out the critical and important role as leader of the council.’
Lib Dem council group leader Kevin Lang urged Mr Day to resign ‘for the sake of the council and the City of Edinburgh’. He said it was ‘clearly untenable’ for him to remain leader given the ‘exceptionally serious’ allegations.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar insisted his party acted ‘immediately’ after being told of the claims on Saturday
In a letter to Mr Day, he wrote: ‘It is vital the council has a leader who is able to focus properly on important matters and someone who commands the confidence of a majority of members of the council. It is obvious this cannot continue to be you.’
SNP group leader Simita Kumar said Mr Day must resign as leader ‘immediately’ and asked officials to suspend his council access.
On BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Mr Sarwar said the situation was ‘deeply distressing’.
Asked if Mr Day should resign, he said: ‘There will now be a police process. I imagine there will probably be a council process. We took immediate action. The people that matter are… the ones that have allegedly been the victims of these messages.’
Scottish Labour added: ‘The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously. They are fully investigated and any appropriate action is taken.’
