INDEPENDENT school The Downs will be leaving its "idyllic" site in the Malvern Hills in a bid to "protect its future".
The prep school, Brockhill Road near Colwall, which has nearly 200 pupils aged six months to 13 years, will move to the site of its senior school Malvern College in Great Malvern.
Headmaster Andy Nuttall said independent schools have faced challenges, including the introduction of VAT on school fees.
"There have been various headwinds over the last few years, with the cost of living, national insurance increases and VAT," he said.
READ MORE: Malvern St James girls' school to start accepting accept boys
READ MORE: Malvern school headteacher shortlisted for 'Oscars of Education'
READ MORE: 4 Worcestershire schools named in top Sunday Times' rankings
"We're looking at how we can mitigate those headwinds and look to the future to maintain this amazing education for the children."
While the school, which was founded in 1900, hasn't lost any pupils to the addition of VAT, he said more parents had been asking about bursaries.
"The mid-year instigation of that has had an impact, in terms of more requests for bursarial support," Mr Nuttall said.
"The sad thing is that it's going to limit our ability to widen access to the school."
Currently, the school fees start at £3,555 per term in Reception, rising to £8,545 in Year 7 and 8 for day pupils, inclusive of VAT. Termly fees for boarders are between £7,550 and £11,770, depending on year group and UK residency.
Mr Nuttall said he believes the move to Malvern College is a "positive" one, which he hopes will alleviate some of the pressures of increased costs.
"We are hoping to realise efficiencies by just operating the one site and part of the rationale is we can pass those efficiencies on to the parents by controlling the fees," he said.
Keith Metcalfe, headmaster of the Malvern College family of schools, said he was "determined" to keep the school open.
“We are determined that The Downs Malvern will not suffer the same fate as other small schools in the sector. Indeed we believe this is a time to be bold, enhancing the educational offer," he said.
The move will come into effect from September 2027, with existing spaces at Malvern College to being made available for the prep school pupils.
Share