A prestigious girls’ boarding school, once a royal alma mater, has sadly closed its doors after 125 years, citing government tax hikes. Now, its historic £5 million estate is on the market! What does this mean for the future of private education, and who will claim this magnificent piece of history?

Queen Margaret’s School for Girls, a distinguished institution and royal alma mater, has officially closed its doors, with its historic Escrick Hall estate in York now on the market for £5 million, a direct consequence of government-enforced tax hikes impacting private education across the UK.

This prestigious boarding school, which once educated notable figures, faced insurmountable financial pressures, primarily due to the government’s decision to levy VAT onto school fees. With annual fees topping £49,000 before tax, this policy significantly exacerbated the financial burden on an institution that had served generations.

The school announced its heartbreaking closure in June, declaring that despite exploring “every possible avenue,” it was compelled to cease operations after 125 years. Low pupil enrolment, a lack of funding, increased national insurance and pension contributions, the removal of charitable-status business rates relief, and rising operational costs for its extensive estate were all cited as critical factors behind the closure, marking a profound moment for the **Private Education UK** sector.

Now, the Grade II-listed country estate, located just six miles from York, is up for sale, encompassing 39 acres of prime land, impressive sports facilities, and numerous additional buildings. This significant **Real Estate UK** offering is expected by Sanderson Weatherall, the consultancy managing the sale, to attract interest for various alternative uses, including residential, leisure, and care development.

Neil Bestwick, a partner in the Asset Advisory and Recovery division, emphasized the property’s status as “an important piece of real estate.” While acknowledging the potential for a resurrected education-based use, he also anticipates strong expressions of interest for alternative developments, underscoring the versatility of the **York Property** and its suitability for diverse ventures, pending planning and other consents.

Queen Margaret’s is not an isolated incident; its **School Closure** reflects a broader trend affecting upper-crust institutions under the new government regime. Other former boarding schools, such as Gilling Castle near York, are being repurposed into retirement apartments, and St Anselm’s School in Bakewell also succumbed to what it termed “unrelenting headwinds,” highlighting the widespread impact of the **VAT Tax Hike** on the independent school sector.

The current climate suggests that more private schools will likely be forced to close their doors in the coming months and years. The combination of escalating taxes and declining pupil enrolment rates is transforming private education into an ever-shrinking and increasingly challenging concern, reshaping the landscape of independent schooling in the UK.