The proprietor of a private educational institution in Oxford, which faces debts of £1.4 million, has been made bankrupt, describing it as a normal experience for business owners.
Alexander Nikitich, who established Carfax College, has had a bankruptcy order issued against him but insists this will not affect the school’s daily operations.
The Carfax Education Group provides private tutoring, university admission support and home schooling services, with offices situated in London, Oxford, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Moscow and Monaco.
The organisation’s website declares it is an international education group assisting families in realising their long-term aspirations through customised learning programmes led by specialists.
The institution describes itself as grounded in tradition while maintaining innovative methods that cultivate a passion for education resulting in academic success and broader achievements.
Mr Nikitich, aged 48, was declared bankrupt last month with administrators appointed in early May.
He stated that personal bankruptcy is an expected occurrence for those running their own businesses, and that the bankruptcy resulted from a petition filed by the landlord of Carfax College.
He explained that difficulties arose when the institution was forced to relocate from its long-standing premises in Hythe Bridge Street due to planned development work in the surrounding area.
At that point, a notice was affixed to the premises indicating the institution owed £198,181.45 as it transitioned to its new location in Binsey Lane.
The notice, dated March 28, 2025, constituted a winding-up petition against Carfax Tutorial Establishment Limited (the company operating Carfax College), submitted by a firm named LDF Finance No.3 Limited.
A winding-up order for this company was subsequently registered at Companies House in July the previous year, although other companies bearing the Carfax name remain active.
One such entity, Carfax Educational Consultants Limited, for which Mr Nikitich served as director from 2005 until February 2026 and which was also based at Hythe Bridge Street, reported creditors due within one year amounting to £1.4 million as of July 31, 2025.
Mr Nikitich stated this amount reflects typical operational debts and that following a restructuring of the group, the overall financial situation of the organisation had actually improved by more than £100,000 between 2024 and 2025.
He described this as evidence of a functioning business successfully completing a reorganisation process.
He further noted that the industry had suffered from what he termed punitive tax measures introduced by the current Labour administration.
On January 1, 2025, the Labour government eliminated the VAT exemption that had previously applied to independent schools, with several institutions, including some in Oxfordshire, citing this change as grounds for closure.
The founder of Carfax College additional noted this was compounded by wealthy international clients choosing not to send their children to Britain due to concerns about social attitudes they described as overly progressive.
Consequently, the college began enrolling pupils with special educational needs whose funding came from the local authority.
Mr Nikitich stated these pupils were subsequently removed at the request of Oxfordshire County Council, which has been contacted for a response.
He explained that no small institution such as Carfax College can readily absorb such a sudden disruption to its income.
He stated this situation led to his personal guarantee being invoked, resulting in his bankruptcy.
He further noted that Carfax College continues to educate its pupils through online platforms, and that the broader international operations remain profitable and expanding.