A Stoke-on-Trent MP has quizzed the government over the closure of a private school in the city. St Joseph's Preparatory School in Trent Vale, which has around 80 pupils, is set to close its doors for the final time in December.

The school blamed 'financial challenges' and upcoming changes to independent school funding – the Labour government will end the VAT exemption for private school fees in January. Gareth Snell, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, raised the issue of St Joseph's during education questions in the House of Commons.

He said: "St Joseph's preparatory school, a small fee-paying independent school in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is closing its doors at the end of this year after a period of financial viability questions. What support will the department offer the city council and parents in Stoke-on-Trent to ensure that those children can still access first-class education?"

Gareth Snell MP raised the issue in the House of Commons (Pete Stonier).

Education minister Stephen Morgan said that private schools are responsible for their own finances. He said: I am aware of the situation at St Joseph's preparatory school. Private schools are of course businesses that are responsible for their own finances, but the department stands ready to assist. The government are committed to high and rising standards in schools, and I hope that we can work together to achieve that."

Government figures show that 1,102 private schools closed between May 11, 2010 and July 5, 2024, for a variety of reasons, including financial viability and action by the Department for Education. But the number of pupils in private schools increased in 2023/24, with a net increase of 13 private schools over the course of the year.

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