Ruthin School, a historic private school in Denbighshire, North Wales, with origins dating back to 1284, has announced it will close at the end of the current academic year. The decision adds to a growing list of independent school closures since Labour introduced 20% VAT on private school fees in January 2025.
School's History and Fees
The school was re-established in 1574 by Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster, and has operated as a co-educational school since 1990. It charges approximately £55,000 a year for full boarding and up to £18,500 for day pupils. Last year, it was ranked among the best independent schools in Wales by the Sunday Times Parent Power guide.
Impact of VAT Policy
Since the VAT policy came into force, around 100 independent schools have announced closures. New figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) show pupil numbers across the sector have fallen sharply. The annual January census found 526,611 pupils attending independent schools, down from 556,551 two years earlier, with about 20,000 of those losses recorded in the past year alone.
Local and Political Reactions
Deputy Mayor of Ruthin, Councillor Anne Roberts, said: "It's very sad news. I am still reeling. It's huge for Ruthin. They are one of the biggest employers. For the local economy, it will have a real effect. It's hard to believe."
ISC chief executive Julie Robinson commented: "This year's census shows a significant fall in pupil numbers across independent schools. Behind these figures are families facing difficult financial decisions and schools working hard to preserve the opportunities, expertise and support that parents value. While independent schools remain resilient, these trends demonstrate that policy decisions can have real consequences for families' educational choices."
Shadow schools minister Saqib Bhatti said: "Children and families are paying the cost of a policy that is disrupting education without delivering the benefits Labour promised."
Government Response
A Department for Education spokesperson disputed that VAT alone was responsible for the decline, stating: "These figures reflect demographic change playing out across the entire school system - primary school numbers have been falling since 2018/19, long before any change to VAT. The share of pupils in independent schools has stayed broadly consistent at 6.3%, and more private schools opened than closed in 2025. Ending tax breaks for private schools is delivering over £1.8 billion a year by 2029/30 to improve education for the 94% of children in state schools, and record numbers of families are getting their first-choice state school place."
