Top preparatory school to close
A HISTORIC Wakefield private school is to close after becoming the latest victim of the recession.
Cliff School will close in July, 71 years after it first opened its doors.
The news has left staff, parents and pupils devastated, with some youngsters bursting into tears when they were told by headteacher Gordon Milne in a special assembly on Monday.
Others put their hands up to ask what they could do to help save it.
A statement released by the school, owned by Alpha Plus, said: “It is with great regret that we have to confirm Cliff School will be closing at the end of this academic year.
“The economic downturn has undermined our efforts to increase pupil numbers in the school, and despite outstanding efforts by the headteacher and his staff, and significant investment, its continuing operation is not sustainable educationally, socially or financially.”
The school, which is based on two sites on Leeds Road, St John’s and Bar Lane, caters for children aged between two and 11.
It was founded in 1939, and became part of the Alpha Plus group in 2004. The company owns 18 schools and colleges nationwide, including the prestigious Wetherby Preparatory in Notting Hill, which Princes William and Harry attended.
Single mum Sascha Maude’s daughter Ebony has been at the school since she was three-and-a-half after winning a scholarship.
The 37-year-old and joint PTA chairwoman said: “There have been a lot of tears. It is so sad because it is such a good, kind, caring little school.”
Sally Best, 37, whose son attends the kindergarten, said: “It is such a lovely school and I cannot believe it is going to close.
“I think the company that owns it has given up on it too soon because the nursery is thriving and those children would eventually move up into the main school and fill empty spaces.”
But it is not just the 134 pupils at the school who are facing an uncertain future. The 41 members of staff are now at risk of redundancy.
The school confirmed it is in discussions with a buyer for one of the sites and that it would be interested in any proposals from anyone who would be interested in buying the sites and using them as a school.
In 2002, the school was named best preparatory school in the country in the Sunday Times Parent Power guide, and in 2005, it was ranked top preparatory school in Yorkshire and one of the top 50 nationally.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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