On 31 July, we communicated with Foundation parents about the new Government's proposal to add VAT to private school fees starting from January 2025, subject to public consultation ending in September. Although the implementation of this change was much sooner than anticipated, we have been working diligently to manage the increased costs.

Over the summer and at the beginning of term, our Heads, senior colleagues, and Trustees have worked together to develop a strategy that will help ensure continuity for our current pupils while maintaining our school's appeal to prospective families. Our aim is to mitigate disruption and support our community as we navigate these changes.

To counteract the impact of the 20% VAT increase, we have taken the decision to reduce our termly fees by 12.5% from January 2025. As a result, the increase passed on to parents will be 5%, significantly less than the VAT rate.

While we recognise that any increase poses challenges, we hope that the decisions made and the resulting adjustment, which is well below the 20% VAT rate, provides some relief to the families within our schools. Our commitment remains focused on minimising future increases and maintaining the quality of education and pupil experience that defines our Foundation.

As a charitable organisation, we strive to balance our fee structure with our mission to deliver outstanding teaching, pastoral care, and co-curricular activities. By managing our finances prudently we aim to keep future fee increases close to inflation rates.

This situation underscores the critical role of future financial donations, which will have an even greater impact on our ability to maintain and enhance our programmes. The generousity of our community is more crucial than ever, and every contribution will help us navigate these challenges while continuing to provide exceptional education and opportunities for our pupils.