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One of the UK's oldest private schools is to close at the end of the current academic year, with the decision coming as independent schools continue to feel the impact of Labour's VAT policy on school fees.
Ruthin School in Denbighshire, North Wales, told staff and pupils on Wednesday that it will shut its doors, bringing an end to a history stretching back to 1284. The school was later re-established in 1574 by Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster, and has operated as a co-educational school since 1990.
The school charges around £55,000 a year for full boarding and up to £18,500 for day pupils. It was ranked among the best independent schools in Wales by the Sunday Times Parent Power guide last year.
Its closure adds to a growing number of independent schools that have shut since Labour introduced 20% VAT on private school fees in January 2025. Around 100 schools have announced closures since the policy came into force.
Deputy Mayor of Ruthin, Councillor Anne Roberts, said: "It's very sad news. I am still reeling. It's huge for Ruthin. They are one of the biggest employers.
"For the local economy, it will have a real effect. It's hard to believe."
The announcement comes as new figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) show pupil numbers across the sector have fallen sharply.
The annual January census found that 526,611 pupils are now attending independent schools, down from 556,551 two years earlier, with around 20,000 of those losses recorded in the past year alone.
ISC chief executive Julie Robinson said: "This year's census shows a significant fall in pupil numbers across independent schools.
"Behind these figures are families facing difficult financial decisions and schools working hard to preserve the opportunities, expertise and support that parents value.
"While independent schools remain resilient, these trends demonstrate that policy decisions can have real consequences for families' educational choices."
Shadow schools minister Saqib Bhatti said: "Children and families are paying the cost of a policy that is disrupting education without delivering the benefits Labour promised."
However, a Department for Education spokesperson disputed suggestions that VAT alone was responsible for the decline.
They said: "These figures reflect demographic change playing out across the entire school system - primary school numbers have been falling since 2018/19, long before any change to VAT. The share of pupils in independent schools has stayed broadly consistent at 6.3%, and more private schools opened than closed in 2025.
"Ending tax breaks for private schools is delivering over £1.8 billion a year by 2029/30 to improve education for the 94% of children in state schools, and record numbers of families are getting their first-choice state school place."