Head teacher says boarding school to remain open

The head teacher of a boarding school which was due to close this month has said she has reached an agreement with its owners to keep it open.

Abbotsholme School near Rocester in Staffordshire was recently sold, with its new owners confirming it would close on 22 June, following a review of the school's finances.

But in a letter to the "Abbotsholme community" Charlotte Molloy said following conversations with owners Syd Phillimore and Jamie Buchanan, it would remain open in September.

She said there were "still many conversations taking place" and thanked the school's supporters for their support.

Teachers had claimed they have not been paid their wages in May and were also told they would not be paid in June.

Molloy said "there may need to be changes regarding staffing and other operational matters" and she was not in a position to make promises or definitive statements at this stage.

She said the agreement was that she would taking "responsibility for the leadership, day-to-day management and future direction of the school", with the financial backing of the owners.

She thanked the school's supporters for the "incredible outpouring of support, emotion, positivity and determination over the last few days".

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