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.

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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”.

Government departments are reminding claimants to check their payment dates so they’re not caught off guard by early deposits over long weekends.

Child Benefit is normally paid on Mondays and Tuesdays, so anyone due a payment on Easter Monday should get it early.

“We always move payments forward when a bank holiday falls on the usual day, so people get their money in time,” a DWP spokesperson said.

Easter 2026: April payments moved forward

For many households, Easter will bring an early arrival of money.

Payments due April 6 2026 (including pensions, Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Benefit, and other DWP support) will instead arrive on April 2 2026.

HMRC and DWP explain that bank holidays mean banks are closed, so payments are brought forward to ensure claimants still have access to funds.

May and spring bank holidays

Other early payments this spring include:

• 4 May → 1 May (early May bank holiday)
• 25 May → 22 May (spring bank holiday)

This affects pensioners, Universal Credit recipients, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Child Benefit, and other regular payments.

Summer and autumn changes

Later in 2026, further adjustments apply depending on location:

• 3 August → 4 August (Scotland only)
• 4 August → 5 August (Scotland only)
• 31 August → 28 August (all UK)
• 28 December → 24 December
• 29 December → 30 December (Northern Ireland only)

Regional public holidays in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee) and Northern Ireland can also affect payment timing.

Why DWP payments change

The DWP and HMRC adjust schedules to ensure that:

• Claimants receive money before the bank closes
• There is no gap in essential support
• Payments arrive predictably despite long weekends

However, claimants should remember that after early payments, the next payment will follow the normal schedule, which may create a slightly longer gap between instalments.

Recommended reading:

How to check your payment

• Look at your bank statement – payments normally appear with references like “DWP Pension” or “HMRC Child Benefit”
• For those on Universal Credit, check the online account for exact payment dates
• If a payment seems late, check with your bank first, then contact the DWP or HMRC if necessary

“Knowing when payments will arrive helps households manage their budgets, especially around busy bank holiday weekends,” a DWP spokesperson said.

The 65-year-old former Top Gear and Grand Tour host is to guest star as the auctioneer at his local lido in Chipping Norton.

Mr Clarkson, a resident of Chadlington on his 1,000-acre farm Diddly Squat, has been a regular at Chipping Norton Lido for some years.

Last year, he helped raise £15,500 for the community-run swimming pool and the year prior it was £13,500 with Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper’s promise of a personal tractor lesson in Mr Clarkson’s Lamborghini tractor the highest ticket of the night.

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The latest auction is to happen on Friday, May 8 at Chipping Norton Town Hall.

A spokesman for the auction said: “Catch him while you can – Jeremy Clarkson is returning for one last outing as auctioneer raising vital funds for The Lido.

“Our Auction of Promises will take place on Friday 8 May in Chipping Norton Town Hall and features a host of promises ranging from a clutch of Scotch eggs to the chance to see Jack Savoretti in concert and meet him backstage.

“Tickets are on sale now for what is always a highly entertaining night in a very good cause.”

Among previous items for sale was a conation from Blur bassist-turned-cheesemaker Alex James, who lives in nearby Kingham.

He donated a Blue Monday Cheese plus tickets to his food and music event The Big Feastival.