Immanuel College Prep School, a private Jewish primary school in Bushey, Hertfordshire, is to close at the end of the academic year, Conservative Post has reported.

The school has entered a consultation on its closure, with findings expected early next year.

Pupils moving into Years 1 to 5 next autumn will be offered places at Kerem School, a Jewish primary school in Hampstead Garden Suburb, Northeast London. Current Year 5 pupils will complete their final year at the senior branch of Immanuel College.

In a statement, Immanuel College and Kerem School said: “The introduction of VAT on fees, in addition to the increase in National Insurance and Teachers’ Pension Scheme costs and the removal of business rates relief, has had a significant impact across the independent schools sector.”

Daniel Levy, chairman of governors at Immanuel College, said: “The past five years, starting with Covid, through the period of high inflation and now with the addition of VAT to school fees, has created unprecedented financial pressures across our sector.”

Motty Pinter, director of Chinuch UK, the umbrella organisation for Charedi education, said: “The government introduced VAT, removed business rates relief, and increased National Insurance contributions. Effectively, what they’re doing is pricing us out of an education according to our religious beliefs.

“This isn’t about a child being denied a pair of Apple AirPods. This is about thousands of Jewish children’s futures and their education on the line.”