How to avoid being in a closing school

If the death of a school is sad for us, it can be a disaster for parents. Schools never give much notice of closure – how could they? The moment their state of mind or finance is known, there would be a rush for the door. Schools, like marriages, may look harmonious and healthy to the outside world but may be harbouring all kinds of corrosive and ultimately fatal problems under the smiling surface.

Girls’ schools, prep schools and even the occasional boys’ or co-ed school have been closing, at the rate of half-a-dozen a year, for several years now. We expect there to be a higher rate of failure over the next couple of years as the recession bites.

How to steer clear of a crash

Not even we – with all our friends in high – and moles in low – places can be sure we know what goes on, even in ‘our’ schools.

Prep schools face a host of challenges: senior schools looking to the state sector to satisfy the Charity Commission, senior schools transferring to the state sector, grammar schools prevented from expanding, an adverse political climate, reduced funding for diplomatic and military families, improving standards in international schools.

Boys’ and co-ed senior schools have dug themselves a grave with a decade of spiralling fee increases. The consequent strain on parents’ finances is clear to see.

The sad truth is that, in a competitive market, girls’ schools find themselves, for the most part, far more recent – and poorer – foundations. They simply do not have the resources to spend on flash facilities or to fund everyone’s choice of subjects. Many girls’ schools have suffered a confidence crash over this and are either moving to co-ed sixth forms of doubtful attractiveness or even offering inducements:

'We have heard of palmtops being pressed into the hands of wavering fifth-formers – to get them to stay.'

This is rubbish. In a school with the will to survive, the social and educational benefits of a girls’ only sixth form in a school in which you are known should be confidently and unapologetically asserted – by the girls themselves and certainly by the head.

Tell-tale signs

 There are though some runes you can read to give you an idea of what the chances are of your chosen school sinking under you. Look out for: 

1. Falling rolls. For English senior schools, look at the performance table data on our website: you can track how each part of the school has been doing over the last five years. For schools in the Guide, we will note where we are aware of consistently falling numbers. 

    

2. Poor finances. Schools that are comfortably off generally feel loved and nurtured when you go round – they are clearly spending money on keeping the place in tiptop order and there are no signs of penny-pinching. Look too for copious bursaries ...