School's out forever! Labour's VAT raid sees more than 50 private schools announce closures so far this year
The new 20 per cent tax on fees has hit school budgets partly due to families being priced out and leaving the sector.
New analysis shows at least 54 private schools have folded since January 1, when the tax became effective.
These include top prep schools, sixth-form colleges and those serving children with special educational needs (SEN).
Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, told The Times: 'We remain concerned about children falling through the cracks as specialist schools are threatened or become out of the reach of the parents who have depended on them.'
Among those affected was the century-old Moorlands School in Leeds, which blamed Labour's tax raid on fees and other rising costs when it announced closure last month.
Also closing were nearby Fulneck School in Pudsey, and Queen Margaret's School for Girls, based in Escrick, York.
In the south, Park Hill School in Kingston, Surrey, and Falcons School, in Putney, southwest London, both announced closures due to falling pupils following the tax change.
Critcis say the closures have put extra pressure on local state schools, where pupils are having to migrate.
Last month, it was revealed state schools in Kent received almost 100 inquiries from parents about places in just 48 hours after Bishop Challoner School announced closure.
The latest government figures show that in January, there were 582,477 pupils in independent schools in England, down from 593,486 the previous year - a sharper decline than expected.
While the number of independent schools still rose over the same period, from 2,421 in January last year to 2,456 in January this year, the increase would probably have been higher were it not for the introduction of VAT on school fees, according to sector insiders.
The Government has insisted the policy is not causing significant disruption.
It says approximately 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year anyway, due to a range of reasons.
A Department for Education spokesman said: 'Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029-30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools to achieve and thrive.'
'The number of children in independent schools has remained steady, while the most recent data shows the rate of families getting a place at their preferred secondary school is at its highest in almost ten years.'
In June parents and private schools lost their legal battle against VAT on fees in the High Court.
They argued the policy was discriminatory against children with SEN, and other special characteristics.
Independent schools support more than 100,000 children with SEN.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has said the money raised will pay for 6,500 new teachers and other state school improvements.
However, Keir Starmer has also appeared to suggest on Twitter the money could be siphoned off to pay for housing.
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