Britain's leading Jewish school saved from closure after £12million raised to fight Rachel Reeves's VAT raids

Joe Sledge
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:54:33 +0000

Britain's foremost Jewish independent school has been rescued from closure after supporters raised approximately £12million in a nine-day fundraising effort.

Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire, had announced last week it would be forced to shut its doors in August due to mounting financial difficulties.

Governors voted today to reverse that decision following a campaign led by the Future IC group.

In a message to parents, the campaign organisers said: "We did it. The board meeting has taken place, and the governors have voted in favour of the new plans backed by an incredible team that has come together to save our school."

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The group added additional funds continue to be secured as the institution begins its next chapter.

The secondary school, which charges annual fees of £29,700, attributed its financial difficulties to several converging factors.

Rachel Reeves’s decision to impose 20 per cent VAT on independent school fees from January 2025, combined with increased employer National Insurance Contributions, placed considerable strain on the institution’s finances.

Daniel Levy, chairman of governors, said: "The introduction of VAT on independent school fees has added further strain to an already challenged sector."

He said: "This has been compounded by prolonged high inflation, increased National Insurance contributions and declining pupil numbers."

Mr Levy said the rising appeal of Jewish state schools had pushed enrolment to unsustainable levels.

The college’s preparatory school had already closed the previous year amid similar financial pressures.

The announcement of the school’s impending closure sparked anger across political lines.

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Oliver Dowden, the Conservative MP for Hertsmere and former deputy prime minister, said: "A real blow to Bushey and the Jewish community."

Immanuel College holds a unique position as Britain’s sole mainstream Jewish independent senior school, having been ranked the nation’s top-performing Jewish school in the The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide in 2025.

Parent Hilary Freeman, a freelance journalist, said: "Collateral damage in Labour’s war on private schools."

Her 10-year-old had been awarded a full bursary to begin at the school in September and Ms Freeman said the closure would have "snatch away" her daughter’s future.

The financial difficulties facing Immanuel College reflect wider challenges across the independent education sector.

According to the Independent Schools Council, more than 100 schools have been compelled to close since Labour’s VAT policy took effect last year.

The levy has come under renewed examination as private institutions continue to manage its impact.

Questions have also emerged regarding how the Government intends to deploy the revenue generated.

Sir Keir Starmer had originally pledged that proceeds from the tax would fund the recruitment of 6,500 specialist teachers for state schools.

However, the Prime Minister later indicated the money would instead flow into general Treasury funds, prompting further scrutiny over the policy’s implementation.