Post by Francesca Ellsmoor

This summer, too many school gates closed for the last time. Across the country, small independent schools have been forced to shut, not because of falling standards or lack of dedication, but because the new 20% VAT on fees has tipped already tight budgets over the edge. These schools are more than places of learning. They are communities. They offer parental choice, whether that’s a faith-based environment, a specialist approach, or simply a smaller, more personal setting. They provide affordable, high-quality education that isn’t just for the very wealthy. And they offer the wraparound care that so many working parents rely on. When these schools close, it isn’t only buildings that are lost. Children are uprooted from the relationships and routines that help them thrive. Teachers and staff lose not just jobs, but a sense of purpose and belonging. Communities lose hubs that have often served for decades. Here in South Liverpool, Auckland College now stands as the only all-through independent school left. We are deeply grateful to be weathering this storm, thanks to the trust of our families, the commitment of our staff, and the energy of our pupils. This isn’t a boast. It’s a reminder of what’s at stake, and of the role small independent schools play in creating diverse, accessible, and family-friendly education. We stand with those who have had to close, and with those fighting to keep their doors open. Because every family deserves the ability to choose the right educational path for their child. #IndependentSchools #ParentalChoice #EducationMatters #EquityInEducation #VATonEducation #LiverpoolEducation #SmallSchoolsBigImpact #CommunityFirst #EveryChildMatters Auckland College Independent School ISA Heads Independent Schools Association (ISA) Independent School Parent Independent Schools Inspectorate Stephanie Livramento Lorenzo Willis Nikki C. Van N. Emma Verrier Rudolf Eliott Lockhart Peter Woodroffe Independent Schools Council Guy Ayling Matthew Adshead John Southworth John Cornally Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Hayley Peacock Christine Cunniffe Nicky Hardy Paul H. Martyn Collins Charlie Rigby Tom Rogerson The Education Exchange (North West) Julie Robinson