Hunter Hall School is battling to avoid permanent closure at Christmas, with a fundraising campaign now underway to raise £180,000 by Wednesday 3rd December. The appeal has so far attracted an outpouring of support, but it comes just months after an independent inspection raised concerns about the school’s leadership, governance and safeguarding standards.
The urgent fundraiser, launched on Wednesday, has already passed £100,000, reaching £121,265 from 169 donations by Sunday 30th November. More than £60,000 was contributed in the first 24 hours alone, with some individual donations as high as £25,000. Despite this, the school still remains just under £50,000 short of the total needed to secure its future.
The school has blamed its financial crisis on the Government’s addition of VAT to school fees, saying it has been forced to implement significant cost-saving measures over the past year, including rent reductions and staff agreeing to a 7.5% salary reduction.
However, it has since emerged that concerns about the school’s leadership were highlighted earlier in the year. An inspection carried out in February concluded:
“Standards relating to leadership and management, and governance are not met. Standards relating to safeguarding are not met.”
The report found that those leading the school were not meeting requirements that leadership:
“demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently”
“fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently”
“actively promote the wellbeing of pupils.”
Inspectors have carried out last month a non standard inspection to check on progress in addressing the safeguarding and leadership concerns raised in February and found improvements had been made to address safeguarding at the school. These inspection findings are not linked to the current financial situation, faced by Hunter Hall but they come at a sensitive time, as governors call on parents, former pupils and the wider community to help keep the school open.
At a Governing Board meeting on Tuesday night, it was concluded that the school will be forced to close at the end of this term unless the £180,000 fundraising target is met. Due to the nature of the crowdfunding platform, the entire amount must be raised or all pledged funding will be lost to the school with those who have made pledges retaining their money.
Co-Chair of Governors Natalie Harling said:
“This is an immensely difficult moment for our school and our community. Hunter Hall is thriving educationally, with exceptional teaching and a warm, supportive ethos. We remain determined to do everything within our power to protect the school’s future. We are appealing directly to the many families and wider community who have benefitted from our school over the last 40 years to dig deep and give what they can so that together we can save this very special school that has been the making of so many young people.”
With just over 72 hours remaining, the school is also approaching local businesses in a final push to secure the cash required to stay open.
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