Government’s ‘Politics of Envy’ Results in Closure of Two Schools Following Starmer’s VAT raid

It is with great sadness we learn that Cedars School is closing down. This is why we are calling on the Church to awake and arise to the challenges facing Christian schools.

Cedars school, which has been running for over 25 years has announced that it is to close its doors in September after not being able to close a funding gap that opened as a result of rising costs and a reduction of the number of pupils with parents not being able to afford increases to fees.

Commenting on the news, Niel Deepnarain, Founder of Unite for Education said, “This is a very sad day for education in Scotland. Cedars school has provided an excellent education over many years with consistently high attainment levels and local children will now be worse off as a result.

“Children across Scotland are faced with increased indoctrination in the classroom, so the need for Christian education has never been greater. We at Unite for Education desire to see every child having access to Christ centred education and the closure of Cedars means children in Inverclyde have lost their only Christian school.

“It is clear that the silence of the church after many being contacted and not responding and the decision of the new Labour government to impose VAT on school fees from January has been one burden too many for families already facing high living costs. We are calling on the church to wake up to the reality of the challenges we face in society and arise together to step up and once again lead from the front by funding Christian education to ensure money is no barrier to children receiving a good education.

“The Bible tells us that we are to train children in the ways of the Lord and when they grow older they will not depart from the truth. For too long we have outsourced education to the state and now the church needs to be at the forefront of education by actively supporting Christ centred education.

“Since news of the closure of Cedars school, we have been in direct contact with the school and are looking at ways we could provide Christ centred education for the children of Inverclyde and surrounding areas through various others in the education sector.

“We are exploring ways of raising funds that would help support independent Christian schools facing similar challenges to ensure the continued provision of Christian education in Scotland. We will continue to work with existing schools, home educators and organisations to develop and increase the needed provision of Christian education in Scotland. The need is great and the cost of doing nothing is too great. We must stand up and take action now for the sake of the children.”

Unite for Education exists to help re-establish Christ centred education in Scotland. If you would like to help make a difference, then join us and be part of making a difference in education for the children of Scotland. We believe the tide will turn and we will once again see excellence in education in Scotland.

We have also learnt that Kilgraston Catholic Boarding School in Perthshire is to close down. These Closures fuel fears that other independent schools will also be forced to shut down in coming months.

Labour is pushing ahead with its plan to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools from January 1 2025. The increase in costs make it unaffordable for many parents. As a result they are having to reluctantly pull their children out of Christian schools. This is the result of the church remaining silent and letting parties come into government that put policies in place that lead to Christian schools closing down.

Whilst this news is incredibly disappointing, we are determined to re-establish Christ centred education in Scotland and will continue to fight through it all and not see our Christ Centred Schools close.