Often described as Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers with its ivy clad exterior, the charming and much-loved Bruton School for Girls has however been struggling with low intake for quite some time.
After 122 years, Bruton School for Girls is to permanently shut its doors at the end of this summer term.
The independent day and boarding school has been struggling for some time. A recent parent in joining had been assured that numbers would increase, following a recent merge with The King’s School, Bruton Foundation in March 2022, and a new development plan. However, with just seven pupils in his daughter’s current class, he quickly anticipated the school would not be able to remain open.
The foundation recently released a statement confirming the closure, saying, “at the last ISI inspection in 2018 there were 199 pupils in the school. Unfortunately, pupil numbers have continued to fall with a total school roll of only 45 pupils expected in September 2022.”
The Governors acknowledge that these low pupil numbers are not educationally or economically viable and have therefore decided to permanently close the school at the end of this academic year. There will, however, be no change to the Bruton School for Girls Nursery, which will remain open.
Headmistress Jane Evans reassured parents, pupils and staff that the school will do all it can to support girls and staff over the coming weeks.
“I would like to thank all our staff and parents for their support of the school through these extremely uncertain and challenging times,” she said. “Governors do not underestimate the difficulties that this decision brings. We believe that taking this very difficult decision now and working with our parents and pupils is the best thing we can do for all those involved.”
For more information, email reception@brutonschool.co.uk.