Written question asked by Lord Bridges of Headley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 August 2026. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Thursday, 6 August 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Private Education: Closures

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the closure of private schools.

Answer

School closures can be influenced by a range of factors, not just the VAT policy. While VAT may have compounded pressure, school closures cannot be attributed to VAT alone. Factors such as school performance, financial viability and demographic shifts also play a role. In the 2025/26 academic year, more private schools opened than closed. The department monitors the private school sector via the ‘Get Information about Schools’ (GIAS) system, which shows that between 1 September 2025 and 31 July 2026, 108 private schools opened and 51 closed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL2493
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Closures Private education Schools
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Private Education: Closures

Secondary information

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