Crime & Safety
Private school to close for good after 13 years due to VAT
Trinity Christian School in London Road was attended by 40 pupils and will close for good after staff said rising finances can no longer cover costs.
It comes after the government’s decision to remove the VAT exemption on the fees private schools charge, coupled with soaring business rates.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire private school sold for £4.5m after collapse
Our Lady’s Abingdon, a private school in Radley Road in Abingdon, which was founded in 1860, was forced to close permanently for financial reasons last year.
Meanwhile, Carrdus School in Banbury blamed the VAT tax hikes as the reason for its struggles and subsequent closing down as it was sold for £4.5m in 2025.
In February, Trinity Christian School said it needed to find £10,000 to fill an unprecedented funding gap after they lost 80 per cent of its support after it was cut last April.
However, they have been unable to raise funds to prevent its closure.
In the 2024 Autumn Budget the chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the introduction of VAT on private school fees from 1 January 2025, charged at the standard 20 per cent rate.
Trinity Christian School is a small independent family school for children aged 4-11 which “runs on Christian principles”.
Governor Keith Brown said: “The final £4,000 was raised but we needed way more than that to survive long term.
“Our second issue was the issue of teaching staff because of course, when staff knew the closure looked like it was happening they had to seek alternatives.
“The summer will definitely be the final term.
“This is a sad reality. The government policy of 20 per cent VAT and removing the benefit of business rates is adding to the burden for something we did get previously.”
A “goodbye” assembly was held last Wednesday, March 25 for parents, pupils and staff after 13 years in operation.
Mr Brown said: “There were many tears. Parents are devastated.
“Quite a lot of the parents have found alternatives for their children and there is a proportion who will do home schooling.
“However, there are no other Christian schools similar in the near vicinity.
“Some are going to another Christian school quite far away. Our school is small but we meet a very special need.
“Those pupils are going to struggle.”
Independent Schools Inspectorate reported in June 2025 that all relevant standards were being met – including quality of education.
Headteacher Naomi Moorcroft told the BBC that student numbers had doubled in 2024 when it moved to a new larger building.
However, she said the increase in costs in 2023 were associated with the move.
The school, which has a 40 per cent intake of SEN (Special Educational Needs) pupils, previously paid £5,000 a year for business rates.
However, the government’s policy change on business relief, means they ended up paying about £35,000 a year.
The school applied for discretionary relief from on business rates from Reading Borough Council but confirmed their application “was not considered eligible” and that they had a responsibility to “protect public funds”.
Oxford Stand Up To Racism has accused Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of inciting the ‘awful violent scenes’ in Southampton on Tuesday night (June 2).
The city where 18-year-old Henry Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived became a scene of destruction after hundreds descended to smash car windows, hurl bricks and cause eleven officers and a police dog to be injured.
READ MORE: New date set for Tommy Robinson appearance in Oxford
Following the disorder, the chief of Hampshire police said those involved were ‘determined to spark fear and division’.
Yaxley-Lennon, who has been jailed multiple times for a variety of offences including when he was imprisoned in October 2024 for contempt of caught, addressed the crowd at the riot.
He said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Oxford Stand Up to Racism is now renewing its call for the Oxford Union to withdraw its invitation for the ‘riot agitator’ to speak on June 17 on the subject of Islam.
He was originally due to speak at the historic debating society on Thursday, May 28 before his appearance was postponed over security concerns and after massive backlash.
READ MORE: Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
Ian McKendrick, a member of the anti-racism group, said: “Despite Henry Nowak’s family clearly requesting that his death should not be used to promote further hatred, Robinson was at the centre of protests in Southampton last night and clearly inciting violence.
“Giving him a televised platform at the Oxford Union legitimises hate and violence, and gives him the opportunity to incite violence to an audience of millions.
“It does not promote free speech – instead, it promotes fear and intimidation among minoritised communities.
“Already we have seen Oxford fascists alongside Robinson in Southampton and now mobilising to bring more hate onto Oxford’s streets.”
Members of Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire were called to attend the Southampton protest on Tuesday night, with the leader of the group posting on Facebook to ask followers to join the ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ protest.
Mr McKendrick added: “There is a concerted effort by far right leaders and fascist groups to incite outrage and bring people on to the streets to riot.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos in Witney amid report of ‘major incident’
“We risk an explosion of violence similar to what we saw around the Southport murders across the UK.
“We’re calling on Oxford to say a clear ‘no’ to this hate and division by protesting against Yaxley-Lennon’s appearance at the Oxford Union.”
Faith and civic leaders of Oxford already wrote to the Oxford Union asking it to rescind the controversial figure’s invitation, and hundreds have signed an open letter calling for the same.
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
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An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
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