Abbotsholme School to close on 22 June after finances review

Abbotsholme School is due to close on 22 June after its new owners reviewed the finances of the independent day and boarding school near Rocester in Staffordshire. Staff at abbotsholme school were told on Thursday that they would not be paid in May or June, adding pressure in the final weeks before closure.

Tony Costigan, director of Abbotsholme 2026 Limited, said the financial challenges facing the school were greater than first understood. In a letter to parents, he wrote: "It has become apparent that the financial challenges facing the school are significantly greater than originally understood," and said the school would remain fully open until 22 June.

Tony Costigan on Abbotsholme 2026

Costigan said his immediate priority was to ensure pupils, particularly those sitting exams, could finish their studies with the minimum possible disruption. The school was recently sold, and the new owners said the closure followed their review of its finances.

The decision leaves staff facing two separate losses at once: their jobs and the wages they said they had already missed. Teachers at the school said they had not been paid in May, and Gallimore said they were then told on Thursday that their June salaries would also not be paid.

Charlotte Gallimore on staff pay

Charlotte Gallimore, the school's registrar, said that after the previous owners, Achieve Education, decided to sell Abbotsholme, a number of interested parties came forward, including established educational organisations. She said it was understood at the time of the sale that the school would continue to operate and that significant capital investment would be made to improve facilities and secure the school's future.

In speaking about the change, Gallimore said: "The speed with which events unfolded has left many within the Abbotsholme community struggling to reconcile the assurances given at the point of sale with the reality that emerged just days later." She also said: "Staff, parents and pupils who have been reassured about the school's future have been left shocked by the sudden turn of events."

22 June at Abbotsholme

Gallimore said staff were encouraged to keep working until 22 June so pupils could be supported through the final weeks of term. She added that staff at the school faced losing both their jobs and the unpaid wages. "Despite these circumstances, staff have continued to turn up each day, placing the needs of pupils above their own personal and financial uncertainty," she said.

For families and staff, the immediate position is fixed: the school is due to close on 22 June, classes are expected to continue until then, and the unpaid wages issue sits alongside the shutdown itself. Costigan has said the school will stay fully open until that date, while Gallimore has set out the strain on staff trying to keep the final weeks running.