School announces closure 'with a heavy heart'

A school in Exeter has announced it will be closing from the end of the summer term.

St Wilfrid's - a private school that has been operating in the city for more than 150 years - said a hike in rental costs by its landlord is forcing it out of business and it will not reopen in September.

The parent of a child at St Wilfrid's said the news was "absolutely heartbreaking". It follows the announcement of the closure of Exeter Cathedral School earlier this year which it said had been caused by "unavoidable financial pressures".

The landlord of St Wilfrid's School, the St Wilfrid's Trust, said it was trying to secure arrangements that were "fair, transparent, and financially sustainable".

In a letter to parents that has been seen by the BBC, the school, for children aged between three and 16, said it had been "a place of growth, community, and learning" for 156 years and was closing "with a heavy heart and deep regret".

It said one "primary factor" had led to the "devastating outcome" of having to announce its closure - "a significant and unsustainable increase in our premises' rent by our landlords, St Wilfrid's Trust".

The letter said: "We have been unable to reach a viable economic agreement due to the intransigence of the Trust and their alternative agenda for the buildings, which have housed the school since the 1950s."

It said the school's relationship with the Trust had "at times, been difficult and contentious" and a proposed rent increase had "delivered the final blow".

The school said it would be working with parents to discuss possible future options for their children.

One of the parents of a child at St Wilfrid's told the BBC: "I'm absolutely heartbroken.

"My child is absolutely devastated and this will have a massive impact."

According to Ofsted the school has 41 pupils, with capacity for 125.

St Wilfrid's Trust is a registered charity which owns the property on St David's Hill.

The Trust issued a statement which said discussions over the lease "reflected both changing economic conditions and the Trust's obligations as custodian of the site".

The Trust said it had "remained open to dialogue and explored a range of potential options to support the continuation of educational provision".

It added: "While we do not agree with a number of assertions that have been made about the Trust's actions and motivations, our focus remains on supporting those affected and ensuring a respectful and constructive way forward."

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