Private schools in London and across the UK are facing “profound” financial pressures after a “really tough” period, a leading South London headteacher is set to say in a speech today (Monday, September 28).
Headteacher to address HMC conference
Anne Cotton, chairwoman of HMC (The Heads’ Conference), which represents more than 300 leading independent schools in the UK, will describe the “shock” and impact of private school closures on communities as “tangible”.
Addressing headteachers at the HMC annual conference in Manchester on Monday, Dr Cotton, head of King’s College School, in Wimbledon, will say it is an “important and challenging time” for private schools.
VAT policy leads to school closures
It comes after a number of independent schools have closed in the wake of the Government’s decision to impose VAT on private school fees. The policy to impose 20% VAT on private school fees was introduced on January 1 last year.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) suggested in January that more than 100 private schools had closed since the introduction of VAT on fees.
Dr Cotton's message to headteachers
In her speech to private school headteachers, Dr Cotton will say: “The last couple of years have been – they are – really tough, and I am conscious that for some schools, for some regions, the pressures are profound.
“The closure of schools, the impact of those closures, on young people, on their families, on staff, on the wider communities they serve, on colleagues and friends, on you, has touched all of us.
“I have joined divisional meetings where the shock and impact of the closure of a neighbouring school have been tangible.”
Partnership work and future focus
Dr Cotton will highlight existing “powerful partnership work” between independent schools and state schools, charities and local organisations.
She will tell the conference: “Going forward, making that positive collective contribution visible will be an important focus for the HMC team.
“That positive advocacy will be accompanied by a continued focus on navigating the challenges of the last couple of years.”
