Avon House Preparatory School, a private school on the edge of Epping Forest in Woodford Green, East London, will not reopen for the new school year in September. The school, which charges annual fees of up to £17,895 per pupil, has ceased operations with immediate effect, according to an email sent to parents earlier this month.
Financial pressures and VAT on school fees
The school cited financial pressures, particularly the introduction of VAT on private school fees from January 2025, as the reason for the closure. In an email to parents, the school stated: "Despite every effort to secure a sustainable future for the school, including exploring opportunities for investment, merger and sale, it has not been possible to find a financially viable way forward."
In a later statement, the school elaborated: "It is with much sadness that we are announcing the closure of the school with immediate effect. Avon House was founded over a hundred years ago under the name Essex House and then in the early 1950’s was renamed Avon House School. The vision for the current school was that of Sheila Ferrari who bought the school in 1970, providing a family school for pupils from 3-11 years old."
School's history and efforts to survive
The school, which caters for children aged 3 through to Year 6, was established at its current location on High Road in 1965, initially named Essex House Preparatory School. The statement continued: "We have explored a number of options to try and save the school from closure but in recent days it became obvious that was not meant to be. The school has struggled with financial pressures including the introduction of VAT on school fees and the rise in NI and pension costs."
For Foundation 1 (nursery), the 2026 fees were approximately £13,700 per annum. For Years 5 and 6, the yearly charges ranged between £17,000 and £17,895, reports Essex Live.
Impact on pupils and families
The school emphasised its commitment to pupils, stating: "We have always put our pupils at the heart of school life both academically and pastorally under the banner of ‘Celebrating and supporting every child’ and we know that many pupils who have journeyed through our school have gone on to great success."
The statement concluded: "We wish all our pupils and families the best for the future as they embrace new schools in the locality." Avon House Preparatory School was approached for additional comment.
