Best Schools - Rastrick Independent School closes days before new term

Dozens of pupils have been left looking for school places after a fee-paying village school closed its doors days before the new term was due to start.

Rastrick Independent School posted notification of closure on its website, but gave no explanation.

The school suddenly announced the closure on its website - despite receiving several 'outstanding' ratings from assessors in recent inspections.

Rastrick Independent School, near Huddersfield, advised parents to contact local authority Calderdale Council.

Headteacher Susan Vaughey wrote that the school would close from 30 August.

If you are a parent from Rastrick School looking for an alternative school please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01622 813870

Cutting private school tax relief 'puts exams at risk'

The body that delivers Scotland’s national qualifications is warning that they could be put “at risk” if the government pushes ahead with its plans to remove the rates relief that independent schools receive as charities.

Legislation currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament proposes removing the charitable rates relief currently enjoyed by independent schools – something that it is estimated will cost the sector around £7 million a year.

However, the Scottish Qualifications Authority has said that around one in 10 of the 6,000-plus teacher appointees it has on its books – who do everything from marking the exams to helping to set them – currently come from the private sector.

If independent schools were to withdraw their support for the national qualifications by refusing to release teachers to take on these roles, it would “impact significantly on the SQA’s operations and, in particular, successful delivery of our National Qualifications would be at risk”, the SQA has said.