State schools receive enquiries after private school closes
State schools in Kent received almost 100 enquiries in the 48 hours after Bishop Challoner School in Bromley, Kent closed, citing the imposition VAT on school fees, The Telegraph has reported
The school’s pupil roll fell from 317 in July last year to 270 in January, with a further 52 pupils scheduled to be withdrawn for the next academic year. Under this pressure, the governors decided the school no longer “economically viable”.
Bromley Council revealed that in the first 48 hours after the school informed parents of its closure on 12 June, it received almost 100 queries from parents about moving their child to a state school.
In the following three weeks, the council received 42 applications to transfer pupils to Bromley state schools, the equivalent to 16% of the school’s roll.