Fairfield PNEU School, located in Backwell near Bristol, will close its doors in August 2025. This decision marks the end of a 90-year legacy for the school, which caters to children aged 2 to 11. The closure stems from the "prevailing economic environment," as stated by the school's chair of governors, Ryan Davies. The announcement has left parents, pupils, and staff facing challenging times ahead.
The school has pledged to support its community during this transition period. Efforts will focus on ensuring that all pupils transition smoothly to new schools by September. Ryan Davies acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that the closure would be tough for everyone involved. Fairfield PNEU School has attributed its financial difficulties to a combination of national economic factors.
"Increases to the national living wage, higher national insurance contributions and the introduction of VAT on school fees have combined to leave the school in a financially unsustainable position" – Fairfield PNEU School
The Department for Education has noted that the closure of approximately 50 mainstream private schools each year is common, occurring for a "range of reasons."
"On average, around 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year" – Department for Education
The closure of Fairfield PNEU School is not linked to the recent controversy regarding tax breaks for private schools. The government eliminated these tax breaks to generate £1.8 billion annually by 2029/30 to fund public services, including state schools. Currently, 94% of children in the UK attend state schools.
For parents like Caroline Turner-Inskip, whose 9-year-old son cherishes his time at Fairfield, the news came as a shock.
"I think the initial reaction was one of shock and frankly panic when you're told your child isn't going to have a school to go to" – Caroline Turner-Inskip
Caroline expressed concern over the availability of alternative schools for her child.
"there aren't many places available. I think it's going to take a lot of work" – Caroline Turner-Inskip
Despite understanding the broader political and economic context, Caroline shared her deep sense of loss.
"It's just a real sadness. A school that's been around for 90 years is coming to an end" – Caroline Turner-Inskip
"He absolutely loves it – it's a wonderful school. The main thing I took away from this is how much he loves to be there" – Caroline Turner-Inskip
