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Private school 'forced to close' amid declining pupil numbers

Posted on 11th November 2008

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An independent school dating back to 1895 has been forced to close due to falling pupils rolls.

Just 35 children attended Rathvilly School in Birmingham at the time of its closure, down from the small school's peak of 120 two to 11-year-olds.

"We were devastated when we found out it was closing. For community feel and educational standards, it was second to none," stated Hayley Turrell, the mother of a former pupil at the institution.

The first private school to shut down during this academic year, owner Margaret Willetts - who was inspired to buy it after her son was a pupil - said she was "left with no option" but to put the institution into administration.

A number of parents have now been forced to find a new school place for their child in the middle of the school term.

According to master of Wellington College Anthony Seldon, the financial downturn will lead more private schools to join the academies programme, he told the Telegraph recently.