Private School Closures

In a statement delivered in the House of Commons, a minister provided an update on the state of private schools in the country. Excluding private special schools, the minister revealed that around 50 private schools close each year, citing a range of reasons for these closures, including financial viability issues and departmental action taken against schools that fail to meet the required standards. The minister further elaborated that between May 11, 2010, and July 5, 2024, a total of 1,102 private schools have closed. However, the minister also noted that the number of pupils in private schools increased in the 2023-24 academic year, and there has been a net increase of 13 private schools over the same period. The statement suggests that while the private school sector has faced some challenges, leading to the closure of a significant number of institutions, it has also seen a rise in the number of students enrolled and a net increase in the overall number of private schools operating in the country. This indicates a complex and dynamic landscape within the private education sector, with both closures and growth occurring simultaneously.