VAT on fees ends school dating from 7th century

ONE of the oldest schools in the country is to close after 1,400 years, blaming the move on Labour's VAT charge on private school fees.

- BY JON KING

Thetford Grammar School in Norfolk traces its origins back to the court of King Sigbert of the East Angles in the 7th century.

Parents of pupils at the independent day and boarding school, where fees range from £4,000 to almost £7,000 per term, were told about the closure by chairman Jay Liu.

He wrote with a “heavy heart” that the imposition of VAT on school fees, removal of business rates relief, increased staff costs, minimum wage rises and soaring utility bills placed “unsustainable” pressure on many independent schools.

Strain