Prestigious Derbyshire private school founded in 19th century closes with an hour’s notice

A prestigious, 137-year-old private school has closed for good with just an hour's notice after its money pot ran dry and staff walked out.

Abbotsholme School, near Rocester on the Derbyshire-Staffordshire border, shut on Wednesday, just three days after head teacher Charlotte Molloy had assured families the school would reopen in September.

Director Tony Costigan informed parents the decision was made on safeguarding grounds, with insufficient staff available to supervise the 300 pupils aged two to 20.

"From tomorrow, and with the safety of pupils at the forefront of every decision we make, the school will be closed to pupils," Mr Costigan wrote.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

Abbotsholme 2026 Ltd, which took over the school on May 29, confirmed the closure on June 5, with acknowledgement of a financial crisis "far more severe than initially anticipated".

Yet just two days later, Ms Molloy contacted parents with a positive update, stating the school would continue operating from September.

"Together we are committed to protecting the school's unique ethos while creating a strong and sustainable future for the whole community," she wrote, adding that "a clear plan" was now in place.

An abrupt U-turn came less than 72 hours after Ms Molloy's hopeful message, when Mr Costigan's letter confirmed Wednesday (June 10) as the final day before the school shut for good.

The letter was sent to parents at 4.11pm during the final class of the day, meaning the school was closed with less than an hour’s notice, reportedly leaving pupils "inconsolable".

Students sitting GCSE and A-level examinations were exempted from the immediate closure and will reportedly be able to sit them this summer.

Mr Costigan sought to reassure families of boarders that their children would remain on site under the care of residential staff until parents could arrange collection.

The catastrophic closure followed the departure of teaching staff in droves, who had worked without pay for some eight weeks due to the troublesome financial predicament the school found itself in.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Epping asylum hotel closure date confirmed as Home Office terminates contract
• Nine arrested in Immigration Enforcement 'crackdown' at DPD delivery hubs
• Girl, 14, charged with attempted murder after three hurt in attack at Manchester school

Founded in 1889 by educational pioneer Dr Cecil Reddie as a boys' school, Abbotsholme became a mixed school in 1969, and occupies a 140-acre rural estate complete with a working farm.

Company accounts lodged with Companies House in 2024 showed liabilities exceeding assets by more than £1.5 million.

Term fees ranged from £2,846 for the youngest day pupils to £6,602 for sixth-form day students, while boarding costs stretched from £11,661, up to £15,510 for international pupils.

Furious parents are now attempting to recover payments made for the remainder of the academic year, as well as summer activities, and the following autumn term.

One parent described the situation on social media as "truly cruel".

Phil Rigby, a parent, said his son had been made “sick with worry” over what had happened.

“It’s a disgraceful way to treat children,” he told the Daily Mail. "Yesterday, children were left with less than one hour of school in a desperate rush to obtain school friends’ numbers.

“Pupils have been robbed of end of school trips, proms and celebrations which has left them distraught.”

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter