(ZENIT News / Edinburgh, 08.17.2024).- Kilgraston School, a private institution in Perthshire, has announced its sudden closure, just a year after narrowly avoiding a similar fate. The decision, described as «heartbreaking» by the school’s board, comes in the wake of severe financial challenges and looming policy changes.
In a letter dated August 13, the Kilgraston board detailed the factors leading to the closure, including a significant financial deficit, long-term debt, and the anticipated impact of the UK Labour Party’s plan to introduce VAT on independent school fees starting next year. The school, which was set to welcome students back this month, will now remain closed.
Kilgraston, Scotland’s last Catholic boarding school, charged approximately £39,000 annually for boarding students and £23,000 for day students. Despite efforts to secure the school’s future, including a proposed purchase by Achieve Education, the deal fell through when the education provider withdrew financial support.
Founded in 1930, Kilgraston has struggled with declining enrollment, with only 173 students enrolled this year, far short of the 210 needed to break even. Additionally, the school was burdened with £3.4 million in loans and long-term financial commitments.
The board expressed deep regret over the closure, acknowledging the shock and disappointment it would cause students, parents, alumni, and staff. «We have exhausted every possible option to keep the school open, but the lack of cash flow and the withdrawal of our last viable investor left us with no choice,» the board’s statement read.
The announcement marks the end of a turbulent period for Kilgraston, which had previously staved off closure in 2022 after raising £2 million in a last-minute rescue effort. However, the financial pressures proved insurmountable this time.
«Last year was incredibly challenging for Kilgraston,» a board spokesperson explained. «Achieve Education stepped in to provide short-term financial support and planned to purchase the school. Unfortunately, unexpected changes within Achieve Education led them to reconsider their investment, leaving us with an unsustainable financial situation.»
The school board has pledged to prioritize the welfare of staff and students during the closure, offering assistance to parents in finding alternative schools for their children. «We deeply regret that we cannot continue to operate a school that means so much to all of us,» the board concluded.
As Kilgraston shuts its doors, it leaves behind a legacy of nearly a century of education, but also highlights the growing financial pressures on independent schools in the UK, exacerbated by policy shifts and economic uncertainty.
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