The Christian School in Takeley is set to close this month after a last-ditch bid to continue classes until the end of the summer term in mid-July failed.
Parents at the small fee-paying school, which was founded in 1989 to deliver a faith-based education, have been told the registered charity’s financial position is so grave that trustees are “entering into an insolvency and liquidation process”.
The Indie has seen a memo sent to families which explains how hopes of remaining open until the end of the term – and permanent closure at the end of the academic year on July 17 – have been dashed. Instead, despite staff working for free, the school will shut on Friday June 21.
The memo reads: “This is an incredibly difficult time for us all and we know this news is only making things worse.
“We understand this will put a lot of you in an even more difficult position in having even less time to seek new school places or find childcare while you are working. It is our hope that you may be able to support one another in this.
“Our current situation is that we have been prevented from paying staff or any other bills since Thursday May 23. It is only through the generosity of our staff, who have volunteered to work unpaid, that we are able to remain open for the [GCSE] exams and for the pupils over the next three weeks. Despite the willingness of these staff to carry on beyond that point, it is not possible for us to do so.”
When it was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in 2020, the independent school had 52 students aged three to 16. Then, the day-pupil fees paid by parents ranged from £3,168 to £8,544. Accounts filed with the Charity Commission in 2023 show the roll had dropped to 38 pupils.
The closure memo says: “We are aware that the current financial situation is going to feel very unfair for some of you. Given the different fee schedules available, there are varied positions that you as parents may find yourselves in.”
Families were also told that a planned residential trip in July had been cancelled and there could be no refunds because “insolvency law is very harsh in superseding any other considerations or contractual obligations”.
Latest accounts filed with the Charity Commission for the year ending August 2023 show the school had a total income of £339,460 against a total expenditure of £334,571 – a surplus of just under £5,000. The figures were the same for the year to August 2022.
The school also recorded a surplus in 2019, with income of £377,750 against £344,600 expenditure, but in 2020 and 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a deficit. The school’s revenue in the two years was £334,380 and £265,820 respectively against expenditure of £353,630 and £280,950.
The school’s website tells families: “Utilities, staff costs and materials are fixed costs and are managed appropriately. These costs are covered by fees. Other costs are not.
“The model we work to is explained to every parent when they join the school. Parents have always had to step up to their responsibility and give in proportion to their income beyond the basic fee.
“Maintaining the school is the responsibility of the parents and a vital part of the giving, not depending on events or one-off initiatives. The giving we hope for is free, regular and joyful.”
At the end of its 2020 inspection, Ofsted concluded: “This is a small, caring school. Trustees and staff have high ambitions for what pupils can achieve. Pupils get the help and guidance that they need to become confident, responsible members of the community.”
In 2017, the education watchdog rated the school, which rents buildings owned by Takeley Chapel, as requiring improvement overall because of the effectiveness of its leadership and management.
However, the report also noted: “Many pupils arrive with confidence issues, low self-esteem and behavioural issues. The individual care, attention and support they receive help the vast majority to flourish both socially and academically.”
After theIndie contacted the Christian School for comment, its administration team responded: “We expect to issue a statement in due course but we are not ready to do so at the moment.”
A spokesperson for Essex County Council, the local education authority, said: “We have not received any contact from the school on this matter so are unable to comment further at this time.”
Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, chief executive officer of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), said: “ISA is a heads’ association and has been advising the school on its legal duties as a charity.
“It is sad that the threat of VAT appears to have caused people to withdraw children, making the charity insolvent and forcing it to close. It is also a cautionary story as to the possible consequences of Labour’s VAT policy.
“Parents who find their children without a school will no doubt be looking at other independent schools, otherwise it will be the local authority’s responsibility to find places for the children.”
The Indie also asked the Charity Commission to comment. It said that it had not been contacted by the school.