Earl Spencer's former Northamptonshire school to close
Maidwell Hall has blamed factors including the Budget decision in November to add VAT to school fees.
The Northamptonshire school that Earl Spencer attended is set to close at the end of this academic year.
Independent school Maidwell Hall, will shut at the end of the summer term.
In a statement the school say the decision has been taken with 'profound regret.'
the independent school for 4–13-year-old boys and girls, based in the Northamptonshire countryside, has been operating for years at a financial loss. Though they say there has been some growth in pupil numbers, the school has been adversely affected by external factors that they say have made it impossible for the school to continue.
The independent school faced insolvency issues after Covid and merged with Uppingham School in 2022, who repaid the six-figure bank loan for which the bank was seeking repayment.
But they now say with less pupils boarding, rising costs, and the announcement of VAT on school fees in Novembers Budget as reasons the school can no longer continue.
Barbara Matthews, Chair of Trustees, said:
“We are deeply sorry to announce our intention to close Maidwell Hall at the end of the summer term 2025. We know how difficult this will be for parents, pupils and our loyal staff and apologise to the very many people who will be affected and for whom Maidwell Hall holds a special place in their lives. We feel especially for the pupils. The school is blessed with wonderfully gifted and well-rounded young people and the delight they take in school has made this decision doubly difficult.
On behalf of the Trustees, I would like to place on record our sincere gratitude to Anthony Rendall, the leadership team and all the staff at Maidwell Hall that have made such impressive progress on all fronts.”
Earl Spencer's Book
Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer, alleged that he suffered abuse at the school in the 70s. He made the revelations in his memoir realised last March, "A Very Private School".
A 67-year-old woman from Stafford was questioned by Northamptonshire Police last June in relation to allegations of non-recent sexual abuse and released on bail.
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police, said at the time “We are in the early stages of investigating a number of non-recent allegations of sexual abuse at Maidwell Hall School.
“Northamptonshire Police takes all allegations of abuse very seriously and where reports are made to us, we will pursue all available lines of enquiry to help bring perpetrators to justice."
She has since been released on conditional bail while police continue with enquiries.