The Brighton Waldorf School, a , is preparing because it is 鈥渘o longer financially viable鈥, the management has said.
The 2 to 16 school, which had 149 pupils in 2021, has suffered a 鈥渄ecline in pupil numbers, due in part to reduced birth rates in the area鈥, the school said.
The school also suffered , when it was found to require improvement overall, despite good ratings in several categories.
Pupils are being helped to find new schools, either at other Steiner Schools or in state institutions.
: 鈥淭he school is no longer financially viable and able to deliver the high-quality education the Trustees, SLT and parents expect from the school and in accordance with its charitable objects.
鈥淭he school does not receive any government funding and is wholly reliant on tuition fees, fundraising, and legacies to meet its overheads.
鈥淭he decline in pupil numbers, due in part to reduced birth rates in the area, has meant that the school鈥檚 relatively fixed overheads exceed the school鈥檚 reduced revenue streams and as such the Trustees have certain duties and obligations to take the appropriate action to mitigate losses.鈥
The closure comes on the heels of 听补, blaming Covid, the cost of living and lower pupil numbers.
It also received in 2023 after years of being rated 鈥済ood鈥.
A Bristol Steiner School and Kindergarten spokesperson said at the time: “Over many years the school has been supported by the generosity of friends, charities and the global Steiner Waldorf movement enabling the school to provide high quality education.
“Sadly, the recent decline in current student numbers has made the financial situation untenable.”
The two Steiner closures are just two among many in the recent school closures story.
in January. In 2022, a highlighted a number of failings but also praised pupils鈥 attitudes and behaviour and academic achievement.
has also announced it will close in July, the Pembrokeshire Herald reported. In 2019, , according to Welsh inspectorate Estyn.
In an email to parents, principal Harriet Harrison explained that the loss of key leadership team members, the financial and operational challenges of managing multiple school inspections, and the unsuccessful transition to a new management model had all taken their toll.
The school鈥檚 attempt to focus on its core 3-16 provision by shutting the sixth form and nursery proved to be a tipping point for many families, leading to a critical reduction in student numbers, the Herald reported.
More independent school closures are expected this year and next as the prospect of VAT on fees looms on top of the financial squeeze, with school leadership teams surveying parents over what cuts they would tolerate to keep fees as low as possible.
