Leweston School Closes Suddenly, Leaving 600 Pupils Stranded
Leweston School, a 135-year-old Catholic day and boarding school near Sherborne, Dorset, announced its permanent closure on Tuesday, effective immediately, with no reopening after the October half term. The sudden decision has left nearly 600 children without school places and staff facing unpaid October wages.
The school, which charges up to £14,990 per term for international full boarders, posted the announcement on its website. In a letter to staff, Concept Education chief executive Hugh Dickinson said the school "cannot pay the salaries due on Friday 30 October" and blamed a "cash shortfall caused by falling pupil numbers," alongside pressures from the introduction of VAT on school fees, the loss of business rates relief, higher employment costs, and declining boarding demand.
Concept Education, whose subsidiary acquired Leweston in December 2025, has appointed a liquidator. The campus itself is owned by a separate trust, which Dickinson said is not part of the insolvency process.
Parents and Staff React with Shock and Anger
The announcement came during half term, with staff informed by email just 30 minutes before parents received notice. Robert Nejako, former head of physics, described the communication as "a shambles," noting the letter was poorly written and misspelled. Parent Stuart Hamon said the news came as a "complete shock" and that "people thought it was a joke initially."
Another parent, Zara, said she had lost two years of a midwife's salary in upfront school fees. Dr Shobhana Marathe said the entire Leweston community is "really struggling" and trying to figure out how to keep the school open.
On Friday, more than 100 parents, pupils, and staff gathered outside the school in protest. A parents' working group has formed with the aim of reopening the school, focusing on legal and financial angles. Dan Williams, whose daughters attended Leweston, said the group needs to present a "proper, commercially sensible business plan" to reassure parents and donors.
Ellie Adams, whose children attended the school, said the closure has "ripped a hole in a very special rural community." Her husband Henry described the working group as "so impressive" and said it gives hope that "this crisis is a temporary crisis."
Political Fallout and Blame Trading
Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, said he was "shocked and appalled" by the closure, calling the manner of it "outrageous." He highlighted that staff were given no warning and that nearly 600 children had been left without school places.
The National Education Union's Amy Brinsden said staff are "looking for answers," pointing out that less than a year ago they were told a new partnership with Concept Education and the Catholic Schools' Trust would secure the school's future. "That leaves some very obvious questions about what changed, when concerns first emerged, and whether everything that could have been done to avoid this outcome was actually done," she said.
In a letter to parents, Dickinson defended Concept Education's role, stating that "Leweston was already in serious financial difficulty before Concept became involved." He said the school was losing money and there was a real risk it would close and its land sold. He added that while due diligence was undertaken, "issues in the school's operations subsequently emerged that were far beyond anything we could have anticipated."
VAT on Private Schools Blamed by Critics
While Leweston did not give a specific reason for the closure, speculation has centered on Labour's imposition of 20% VAT on independent school fees, which came into force last year. The policy is intended to raise £1.8bn annually by 2029 to fund state school improvements.
Critics argue the tax has accelerated closures among second and third-tier private schools. According to the Department for Education's 2026 school survey, the number of children at independent schools fell by 3.8% since 2025—a loss of 22,000 pupils—compared with a 1.2% decline across all school types. More than 100 independent schools have closed following the VAT imposition.
A Telegraph opinion piece claimed the closure is "almost certainly" related to the VAT raid, arguing that the policy has made independent schools more elitist by reducing bursaries and scholarships. The article noted that elite schools like Eton and Westminster remain bolstered by overseas pupils, while second and third-rank schools are struggling.
The Independent reported that social media users also speculated about the VAT link, though the school has not commented. Leweston charged £7,909 per term for Year 7 and 8 day pupils, £8,475 for Years 9 to 11, and up to £14,990 for international full boarders.
Pupils Offered Places at Alternative Schools
Every Leweston pupil has been offered a place from 2 November at a school in the Inspired Learning Group, including Clayesmore School and Sunninghill Prep, both located around 19 miles away. It remains unclear how many families will take up the offer.
The school's alumni include actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Baroness Dido Harding, who headed the NHS test and trace programme during the pandemic. Leweston was founded in 1891 by nuns from Belgium as St Anthony's and is based in a former manor house on a 500-acre estate, with a 46-acre campus featuring an indoor heated swimming pool, a theatre, and a purpose-built equestrian centre.
The closure raises questions about the financial sustainability of smaller private schools amid rising costs and policy changes. As parents and staff fight to reopen Leweston, the case highlights the vulnerability of institutions that serve middle-income families and rely on boarding demand.
For now, the community awaits answers from Concept Education and the liquidator, while the government faces pressure to assess the impact of its VAT policy on schools like Leweston. The fate of the 135-year-old institution remains uncertain, but the determination of parents and staff suggests the fight to save it is far from over.
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