Local Conservatives in Oxfordshire have expressed deep concern in response to the sudden closure of an independent school in Abingdon.
Our Lady’s Abingdon School, which had provided education to local students for more than 160 years, announced it’s decision to close with immediate effect on Monday, citing a range of economic factors, including the introduction of VAT on school fees and higher National Insurance contributions.
Speaking on the closure, Cllr James Plumb, who is the Oxfordshire Alliance spokesperson for Children and Young People on Oxfordshire County Council said “My thoughts are with the pupils, parents, and staff affected by this deeply upsetting news. For generations, OLA has been part of the local community, offering excellent education and pastoral care to countless young people. Its closure will cause significant disruption, made worse by the fact that families have been given just weeks before the start of the new term to secure alternative school places. This will inevitably put additional strain on other local schools, many of which are already under pressure.”
Cllr Plumb went on to criticise the Labour Government’s recent policy changes, adding: “The imposition of VAT and business rates has dealt a hammer blow to schools like OLA. These measures don’t just affect parents who choose independent education, they have knock-on effects for the whole system, forcing children into already stretched state schools. We should be supporting all schools that provide high-quality education, not undermining them through punitive taxation. This is a sad day for Abingdon