A 拢2.7m parent-led bid to save Maidwell Hall School in Northamptonshire has been rejected.
Trustees said that the plan to save the prep school was 鈥渘ot viable鈥 but praised the group鈥檚 鈥渆xtraordinary commitment, passion, effort and integrity鈥 in preparing the proposal.
Under the plan, which had 拢2.7m in financial backing, Maidwell Hall would break free from nearby Uppingham School 鈥 with which it had merged two years ago after suffering financial problems 鈥 and become an independent charity again.
The group had also won the support of the state academy group the to provide operational support to the school.
But following the rejection of the bid, Uppingham’s trustees will now continue with plans to close Maidwell at the end of the academic year, citing low pupil numbers and rising costs.
One Maidwell parent accused Uppingham School of acting 鈥渄isgracefully鈥 in its decision to close the prep while another said it felt like 鈥渁 cynical and calculated move by Uppingham that allows them to sell off the land鈥.
鈥淲e can see no other reason for not allowing a thriving school to continue,鈥 they said.
Maidwell Hall School, which has 160 pupils aged 4 to 13, is housed in a turreted 17th century mansion on an entensive estate.
A member of staff added: 鈥淲e were promised this would be a minimum five-year聽project, and in less than half of that we have been let go. All our teachers and staff are now out聽of jobs, some out of homes.鈥澛犅
A comment from Uppingham on the decision acknowledged the 鈥渟trength of feeling鈥 around the issue but added:
鈥淲hen considering the complexity of the educational and operating context, it is with profound sadness and regret that the Trustees concluded that the proposal was not viable for Maidwell Hall to continue to operate as a school after the end of this academic year.
鈥淭he Trustees wish to acknowledge that the past few weeks have been enormously disruptive and uncertain for the children, parents, and staff at Maidwell Hall. They understand there will be adverse financial and emotional impact on families, and their duty now is to act in the most positive way they can to support the staff and pupils in enjoying their last term and a half at Maidwell.
鈥淒espite the collective disappointment for everyone at Maidwell Hall, including parents, pupils, staff, and the school鈥檚 Trustees, it is important that the school and its community now have certainty for the future and are able to celebrate the legacy of Maidwell Hall as it enters its final months as an independent prep school.鈥
