UK school closes with one hour’s notice - open for 137 years

Parents of pupils at a private school were told it would close less than an hour before the end of the day, as doubts over the 137-year-old institution's future persist. Abbotsholme School was founded back in 1889 and sits within 140 acres of rural countryside on the Derbyshire and Staffordshire border.

The co-ed independent day and boarding school for pupils aged from two to 20 has come under financial strain in recent years, with accounts filed at Companies House in 2024 revealing that total liabilities exceeded total assets by £1,514,645, Derbyshire Live reports. It was previously announced the school would be forced to shut for good after the entire school estate was bought by local businessmen Syd Phillimore and Jamie Buchanan, who retained the freehold of the land and leased the operation of the school itself to Abbotsholme 2026 Ltd on Friday, May 29.

Abbotsholme 2026 Ltd is led by Tony Costigan, a Conservative local councillor and insolvency practitioner. The structure of the deal led to fears in the community that the school's future was being put at risk in the interests of obtaining the valuable land, The Times reports.

The new landlords rejected the suggestion, insisting dividing up the educational operations and historical freehold represented a "rescue solution" for the cash-strapped school.

But on Friday (June 5), it was reported the school was set to close on Monday, June 22, after Abbotsholme 2026 Ltd said the "financial challenges facing the school are significantly greater than originally understood".

Then on Sunday (June 7), head teacher Charlotte Molloy is understood to have written to parents informing them that following discussions with the owners, the school would be opening in September, as per Derbyshire Live.

Ms Molloy said she would be taking close charge of the process. "I know there is a great deal of communication and speculation, so it is important that people know there is now a clear plan in place: Abbotsholme will remain open in September and there is a committed team in place to lead and support the school moving forward," she wrote.

"I am looking forward to working with all of you as we begin the next chapter in the school's story."

But on Wednesday (June 10) parents' plans were thrown up in the air again, following a new letter from Abbotsholme 2026 Ltd director Tony Costigan.

Mr Costigan told them the last day of school would be June 10, with the exception of pupils still sitting GCSE and A level exams.

The Telegraph reports that the message was sent at 4.11pm, during the last class of the day, shortly before many children would be picked up by parents. "From tomorrow, and with the safety of pupils at the forefront of every decision we make, the school will be closed to pupils," he wrote.

"For our boarding pupils, please be reassured that they will remain on-site and continue to be looked after by our dedicated boarding staff, exactly as normal, until collection arrangements have been confirmed."

This has meant that there are insufficient staff numbers to supervise pupils, which forced the early closure on safeguarding grounds.

Angry parents are now reportedly attempting to get back any money they have paid for the remainder of the current academic year as well as any payments they may already have made for scheduled summer activities and the start of the autumn term.

Fees for the school have ranged from £2,846 per term for the youngest day pupils up to £6,602 per term for day sixth formers.

The fees for full boarding ranged from £11,661 to £13,225 per term and up to £15,510 for international students, the outlet reports.

It's not yet clear whether the closure is a temporary or permanent measure. Express.co.uk has reached out to Abbotsholme School for comment.

Derbyshire Live has approached Mr Costigan and Abbotsholme 2026 Ltd.