Private senior school closes due to soaring costs

The school was established more than 100 years ago

A private school in Lancashire is no longer financially viable and is having to close at short notice, its head teacher has confirmed.

Jonathan Harrison, who is also proprietor of the Moorland School in Clitheroe, wrote to parents and carers on Wednesday to say the senior school would shut its doors on Friday.

He explained Moorland could no longer operate because of factors including the imposition of VAT on school fees, falling numbers of full-fee paying students, uncollected fees, and higher operating costs.

Other local independent schools, including Westholme in Blackburn and Scarisbrick Hall in Ormskirk, have agreed to support students preparing to take GCSEs and A-Levels this summer.

'Hardest decision'

Moorland School, established more than 100 years ago, offered either day or boarding provision and, according to its website, had 288 pupils.

It charged annual fees of up to £36,000.

In his letter to parents and carers, Mr Harrison said closing the senior school had been "the hardest decision of my life" and apologised for the "incredibly short notice" to all affected.

He wrote: "The impact on our pupils, their families and the staff has been a major consideration [but] sadly the school must live within its economic means.

"Despite our best efforts, our senior school has been operating below where it should be for budgetary purposes."

'Deteriorating affordability'

Mr Harrison said he and his family had been "custodians of Moorland for nearly 40 years and we are absolutely heartbroken that we have had to make the decision".

He blamed "deteriorating affordability, falling numbers of full fee-paying parents, higher operating costs, VAT on school fees, the added costs of employers' National Insurance and ultimately owed fees that remain uncollected".

Mr Harrison confirmed that Moorland School's nursery, infants and junior sections were continuing to "flourish" and would remain open.

When contacted by the BBC on Friday, an automated email response from Mr Harrison said he had "retired from the teaching profession, and as such is no longer an active director at the school".

The BBC has asked Moorland School and Lancashire County Council to comment.