Windermere School announced it will be moving to one site in response to the government’s announcement of 20% VAT on fees for independent schools.

Windermere School is a co-educational private school in the Lake District for boarding, weekly boarding and day pupils aged three to 18.

The junior school campus will be relocated into the senior school site. This transition is expected by January when building works have been completed.

The school stated that the “move to become one school, on one site, has been in the making for several years, however, in anticipation of VAT following the result of the General Election and a determination not to compromise the school’s unique offering and experience for all pupils, the decision has been made to come together.”

Governors also announced a reduction in fees for the youngest year groups and an increase below the level of VAT for all others.

Windermere’s chair of governors Peter Hogan said: “In the face of this large and sudden increase in costs we are not prepared to cut back on what we offer children or compromise the quality and variety of our extracurricular activities. At the same time, we do not want parents to have to bear the full impact of the tax.”

Windermere School’s head Frank Thompson commented: “We are aware of the magic of our junior school, which resides in our wonderful community of children, staff, and families, rather than the building. We will not lose sight of what makes our junior school such an exceptional place for children to learn and grow. We are also looking forward to being together as one community on one site, with the happy sound of young children in the grounds.”