Independent school applications, material changes and closures
Published 30 October 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-schools-applications-changes-and-closures/independent-school-applications-material-changes-and-closures
Pre-registration applications approved
To open an independent school in England, applicants must complete a registration process with the Department for Education (DfE).
Applicants must demonstrate they are likely to meet the Independent School Standards once registered.
This table shows the number of independent schools registered by DfE between the years 2020 and 2024.
| Year | Number of independent schools registered |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 105 |
| 2023 | 92 |
| 2022 | 79 |
| 2021 | 99 |
| 2020 | 82 |
Material change applications approved
Before making any substantial changes to their registered details, independent schools must submit a material change request to DfE and obtain prior approval from, the Secretary of State for Education. This requirement applies to any significant alteration, including changes in:
- school address
- age range of pupils
- the maximum number of pupils
This table shows the number of material change applications that DfE approved between the years 2020 and 2024.
| Year | Number of material change applications approved |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 309 |
| 2023 | 466 |
| 2022 | 351 |
| 2021 | 280 |
| 2020 | 320 |
Independent school closures
When an independent school decides to close voluntarily, it must notify DfE, so that its details can be removed from the Register of Independent Schools.
This table shows the number of independent schools that DfE removed from the Register of Independent Schools between the years 2020 and 2024 as a result of voluntary closure and regulatory and enforcement action.
| Year | Number of independent schools closed |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2023 | 85 |
| 2022 | 63 |
| 2021 | 66 |
| 2020 | 63 |