Just a week after it was announced that St Clare’s School in Porthcawl, Wales, would close as a result of the Governments introduction of VAT on fees, a second private school has revealed it will also shut its doors later this year.

Oakleigh House School in Swansea blamed falling pupil numbers and financial pressures for the decision to close after more than a century.

Both schools are run by education company, Cognita UK, which blamed financial pressures and dwindling pupil numbers.

The news follows warnings about the future of fee-paying schools after VAT was imposed on top of increased employer National Insurance contributions.

Cognita said in a statement: “This week we shared some difficult news with our families and staff about the proposal to close Oakleigh House School.

“We carried out a comprehensive review of the school’s sustainability in light of local demographic trends and a changing economic environment, which sadly concluded that pupil numbers are expected to continue to fall to an unsustainable level in the next academic year.

“We will do everything we can to support our families and staff and help our current pupils find alternative school places should the decision be taken to close.”

It is understood the two schools will close in December.

Oakleigh House School, in the Uplands area of Swansea, is the only independent prep school in the city and takes children from two and a half to 11 years.

Fees range from £3,736 a term for reception to £4,492 a term for children in Year Six.