FROM 7% to 3%: British independent schools in free fall

Britain's independent school sector is in free fall. Since 2010, over 1,100 schools have closed and the pace is accelerating. VAT on fees, rising costs, and a co-dependency on international enrolments have pushed closures past 100 since January 2025, with some forecasts suggesting the sector could shrink from 7% of pupils to just 3%. For independent schools survival means charitable status, mergers, or acquisition. There's a solutions gap - correction - a solution being ignored.Support the show