Moorlands School, a private institution in West Yorkshire, will shut its doors at the end of the autumn term, citing economic pressures such as VAT on fees and rising operational costs. The school, which has been in operation for 127 years, will close on 31 December.
The trustees of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, which runs the school, decided after a thorough review of the school’s financial viability. The school identified multiple factors contributing to its financial challenges, including VAT on school fees, declining student inquiries, the loss of charitable relief on business rates, and rising costs associated with maintaining its facilities.
Despite the closure, the school emphasised that the quality of education would continue until the end of the term, and teachers would ensure that student activities remained unaffected. The announcement was met with sadness from parents, with some expressing concerns over the sudden nature of the decision, especially for families with children who are set to transfer to new schools in a matter of weeks.
Nearby institutions, such as Richmond House School, have assured parents that they remain financially stable and have expressed their sympathy for those impacted. The Department for Education noted that around 50 private schools close annually and that local authorities would support affected families in finding new placements for their children.
