Founders of independent private Dudley school forced to close amid rising costs tell of 'sadness'

Thomas and Hayley Bowen had been running The King Alfred School in Lower Gornal, in Dudley borough, since September 2021 to offer “affordable, high quality education to prepare children to live virtuous lives”.

However 2025 has proved a “difficult year”, the couple said in a statement on social media announcing the immediate but temporary closure of the school due to “financial reasons”.

They said: “It is with a huge amount of regret and sadness that we have to announce the immediate, but temporary, closure of The King Alfred School. 

“The school leadership fought until the very end to keep the school open through fundraising and attracting new students, but unfortunately, we were not in a position to continue.”

The introduction of VAT on school fees in January has hit hard, they said, along with other cost increases including a rent hike, making it impossible to continue at present.

They said: “This has been a difficult year due to the Government's introduction of VAT to independent education, raising employment costs and the removal of charitable status business rates relief. 

“Since VAT was applied to fees many existing and prospective families have informed us that they can no longer afford to meet rising costs and have as a consequence withdrawn their children from the school and applications for next year. 

“This combined with a disappointing uptake in student enrolment and an increase in rent from our landlord, The Methodist Church, has led us to close.”

The couple, both directors of the school, said they know supporters will be saddened to hear of the closure, especially those who have made financial contributions, and they added: “We are still fully committed to classical Christian education and believe this type of education has the potential to help cure the spiritual and cultural decline of our nation.

“We are determined to see the spirit of The King Alfred School lives on and we will try and fulfil our mission and vision in every way we can.”

They said they would continue to support a number of former school families who wish to home educate using a classical curriculum, and would continue to promote a revival of classical education, with the hope of reopening the school in the future if circumstances permit.

They said: “The King Alfred School vision and mission is one that will remain alive and the trustees and leadership of the school will be looking to reopen the school in the coming years.”

Hopes of reopening would be dependent on a number of factors including securing sufficient financial investment, securing a new building to operate from, viable enrolment and class numbers and educational reforms.

The couple added: “We would like to take this time to thank everyone who has supported and prayed for us over the last seven years. 

“We hope we can honour that support by rising from the ashes in the near future. We want to take this opportunity to thank each and every family that has positively contributed to the mission and vision of the school.

“The need for this type of education in our nation today is great. It is our hope that we can now build a case for a wider network of support and partner with the great minds in this field to continue what has been started.

“We will be looking to reopen in the next 12 to 36 months - once we have enough support in place to allow us to operate the school in a way that leads to long term viability.”

Last week it was revealed the historic Chase Grammar School in Cannock was at risk of closing at the end of the year due to "financial challenges".

In a letter to parents, school bosses said no final decision had been made but they needed to make people aware "the school is at significant risk of closure at the end of this calendar year, on 31st December 2025". despite efforts to secure a long-term and sustainable future.

With the summer holidays coming to an end, the news has left many parents heartbroken and scrambling to find alternative schools.