Private school announces possible closure
The Carrdus school in Banbury could see its doors close after 67 years of teaching.
A private school in Oxfordshire has announced it could be closing its doors from the end of spring term 2025, as of rising financial pressure brought on by the autumn budget.
The Carrdus School, is an independent preparatory school for boys and girls aged 3 to 11, whose parents might have to look elsewhere, ‘unless a commercial solution can be found.’
Described as, “a real gem, providing a genuinely kind, safe setting in beautiful surroundings”, by the Good Schools Guide, the educational institution is running out of financial options.
Governors of Tudor Hall, who own the school, said in a statement, ‘The Governors are actively continuing to explore all possible avenues to avoid closure but wanted to give the Carrdus community as much notice as possible at this stage.’
The introduction of VAT on independent school fees mid academic year was a large pressure alone but the new budget didn’t stop there. Adding the loss of business rates relief and the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions, the private school is under a lot of pressure to keep their doors open.
Despite being open since 1957, the governors of the 120-pupil school said, ‘a number of Carrdus parents have been left with no alternative option but to give notice to withdraw their child from the school either at the end of the autumn term, or at the end of the academic year.’
The Banbury Guardian reported that “parents were in tears” when the announcement was made, whilst the governors made it clear, ‘Our focus is now on supporting the Carrdus families to secure places for their children at other local schools.’