Leweston is closed. It does not have to stay that way.

On 27 October 2026, during the autumn half-term, families were told that Leweston would close with immediate effect and would not reopen after the holiday. Staff were reportedly told shortly before parents. Around 570 pupils and 100 nursery children lost their school, and 180 staff lost their jobs.

In December 2025, the school’s trustees transferred its operation to a new company owned by Concept Education. That company ran the school for three terms. It has since entered liquidation, and licensed insolvency practitioners have been appointed.

The closure has been raised in Parliament and covered by national media. Local MPs have called for answers about how a 135-year-old school with hundreds of pupils could close overnight.

We will update this page as we learn more. We only publish what we can confirm.

• Around 570 pupils were given days to find a new school, and the schools families were directed to do not have space for all of them.
• Around 100 nursery children have nowhere to go, with most local nurseries full.
• Some 180 staff lost their jobs and were not paid for October, in an area with few comparable jobs.
• Staff have stayed on site unpaid to look after returning boarders and the horses, and to keep the site safe.
• Children with special educational needs, whom Leweston supported individually, are being told by other schools that their needs are too complex.
• Community groups that used the school’s facilities, from swimming to fitness clubs, have lost them.

Fees you have already paid

If you paid fees in advance, you may be a creditor of the company in liquidation. A solicitor is acting collectively for Leweston parents: to register your claim, email [email protected] with your name, your children’s names, and what you paid. Keep your invoices, receipts, and all correspondence from the school. If you paid by credit card, ask your card provider about a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act; if by debit card, ask your bank about a chargeback. Time limits apply, so do this soon.

Finding a place in the meantime

Many families have arranged temporary places elsewhere. That does not stop you returning. The rescue plan protects families who rejoin during this academic year from sharp fee rises.

Children with additional needs

If your child has an education, health and care plan, contact your local authority’s SEND team, who have a duty to help find a suitable placement.

This is general information, not legal or financial advice.

Reopening Leweston needs funding to cover the years while pupil numbers rebuild. The rescue plan is built on a cautious case, and the funding we are seeking is sized to it.

How your support is used

To reopen the school, make good staff’s lost October pay, fund a hardship fund for affected staff and families, and run the school until it returns to surplus. Every surplus after that is reinvested in the school, and supporters receive an annual report on how their money has been used.

Ways to support

We welcome gifts of any size. For those who would prefer their support to be repaid over time, we are developing a parent-owned structure that can accept longer-term loans as well as gifts. Details will follow once legal and tax advice is complete.

Talk to us

If you are considering a significant gift or loan, we would be glad to share the full business plan and financial model. Email the rescue team and we will arrange a conversation.

The Leweston Working Group is made up of parents, supported by parents and friends with legal, financial, and business experience, working alongside staff and the wider school community.