Heartbroken children in tears as they're told shock news of school's imminent closure

Heartbroken pupils and parents were left in tears as they were told their 700-year-old school will close for good.

The devastating news about Ruthin School in Denbighshire was delivered the day before children broke up for summer.

A number of independent school - sometimes called private schools - have been struggling, with St Gerard's, in Gwynedd, also closing, and owners of both citing financial pressures.

A spokesperson for Ruthin School, one of Wales' oldest, said it had "not been possible to establish a financially viable way forward", and it would enter administration.

The body representing independent schools believes new VAT rules for fees have added to a "perfect storm" for the sector.

Last week, Llandovery College in Carmarthenshire said it faced a £1m deficit after pupil numbers fell, and also cited the impact of the 20% VAT rate on private school fees.

Ruthin pupil Hari, 15, says he's "absolutely devastated", describing how the small classes make it "really easy to learn".

He was one of around 240 pupils and had been looking forward to returning in September for his final year and to sit his GCSEs.

But he will now need to find a new school.

"I don't know what we're going to do," his mother Arwen said, struggling to hold back tears.

"My children come on a scholarship because we couldn't afford the fees - we're a working class family."

She has another child who was due to start at Ruthin School in September.

But all parents and staff were informed the school would not be reopening for the new term by email on the afternoon before the final day of lessons.

Parents have written to Chinese owners Galaxy Global Education Group to challenge the way the closure was handled.

"The manner in which you did it has caused immeasurable pain," the letter said.

"Parents have been left in tears. Children have been left frightened, confused and heartbroken."

Pupil Joseph, 15, described feeling "anger" and "devastation" and said he was "very anxious about what's going to happen".

"It's been a home for four years of our lives and it's gone in the blink of an eye," he added.

His father John, from Hawarden, Flintshire added: "We just don't know what to do.

"We drive round in an old car so our sons can come here to give them a better start in life and just the flick of a pen, and it's gone."

Value added tax (VAT) is one of the UK government's main sources of income.

It is payable on top of the purchase price of many goods and services, with the standard rate 20%.

Previously, private schools did not have to charge VAT on their fees because of an exemption for organisations providing education.

While some famous schools, like Eton and Harrow, charge about £50,000 a year in fees, the average is about £15,000.

Exemptions on these payments were removed on 1 January 2025.

A UK government spokesperson said: "Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029-30.

"This will help support public services, including helping the 94% of children who attend state schools to achieve and thrive."

The move was strongly opposed by the sector amid warnings it would lead to closures.

This was highlighted by trustees of St Gerard's School in Bangor when they wrote to parents in May, saying the school would close in six weeks' time.

"Over a sustained period, the school has faced increasing financial pressure," the letter said.

"Recent changes, including the introduction of VAT on school fees, loss of charitable status, rise in National Insurance alongside other rising costs and the ongoing challenge of maintaining pupil numbers mean that the school is unfortunately no longer viable."

The Welsh Independent Schools Council (WISC) represents most of the 79 private schools in the country.

It said though there was "no one reason why a school has to take the difficult decision to close", for some the tax changes had "proven a bridge too far during an already challenging time".

Its figures suggest there are 6,500 pupils in the independent sector in Wales, down 6% since last year - a bigger drop than anywhere else in the UK apart from the north east of England.

Chairman of WISC and Principal of Kings Monkton School in Cardiff Paul Norton said many independent schools in Wales are small and community-based, and if they close it could be "very detrimental to the Welsh economy as a whole".

The sector provides choice in the absence of the academies and grammar schools seen in England, he said.

"These are choices that middle-class parents struggle to make in order to do the very best for their children because other forms of education cannot meet their needs for whatever reason that is," he added,

"I do think we'll see further reduction in private education unless changes are made."

Two other schools in Wales have also closed in the last year - Oakleigh in Swansea and St Clare's in Porthcawl, Bridgend county - both owned by the same global company.

Rachael Harman, a former pupil of St Clare's, whose son also attended the school, said the news in May 2025 that it was to close came as a "complete shock".

The reason given by the owners was demographic changes meaning fewer school-age children and therefore declining pupil numbers.

A bid by parents to take over the running of the 85-year-old school failed and it closed in December 2025.

But Rachael and others carried on trying to save the 11 acre site.

"It's just a really, really beautiful place - nobody wanted to see it become a building site," she said.

Clare House School opens in September - initially for nursery to year six children.

Chairwoman of Trustees Rachael is anticipating "a rocky time" as they set up, but is confident of a bright future.

"I think, honestly, for all independent schools, we are in a very tumultuous time," she added.

But she believes the demand for independent education is still there.

While some independent schools face financial challenges, an investment of tens of millions of pounds by Cardiff Sixth Form College in a new campus suggests there is still significant wealth in some parts of the sector.

Renovated historic buildings and a purpose-built 17-storey student boarding centre will open in Cardiff Bay in September 2026.

Commenting on the financial problems faced by some independent schools in Wales, the Welsh government said it would continue to monitor the situation.

"Independent schools govern and manage themselves and financial decisions must always be taken with proper regard to learners' best interests", a spokesperson said.