Fulneck School

Last month, with deep sadness we confirmed the heartbreaking decision to plan for closure of Fulneck School at the end of the current academic year in July 2025.

This decision follows a comprehensive strategic review which began last year in response to long-term challenges the School has faced. Fulneck has seen a gradual but significant decline in pupil numbers over recent years - a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing shifts in the independent education sector. At the same time, rising costs, many of them outside our control, have made it increasingly difficult to sustain the school financially.

Throughout this review process, the School management, the Trustees and Governors have explored every possible avenue to secure a viable future for the School. We considered a range of options, including partnership, merger, and new financial models. Sadly, no viable alternatives or investment offers materialised, and the conclusion became unavoidable.

This is not a decision that has been made lightly, and we are acutely aware of the distress it will cause to pupils, parents, staff, alumni, and many within the wider Moravian community. Our priority is to ensure that the remaining school year proceeds with care and dignity. The Trustees, alongside the Principal and school governors, are committed to supporting each pupil in their transition to a new school and to helping staff navigate the uncertainties ahead, including offering counselling support.

The legacy of Fulneck School is considerable. For nearly 275 years, it has been a place of learning, service and community. Alumni include politicians, architects and actors, as well as several ministers and church members. The grief that many people feel is a sign of how deeply this school is loved.

We recognise that many in the Moravian community will have questions about the impact of the closure on the Church, including the future of the School property. We ask for your understanding and care in this sensitive time, as much remains in progress and there will be opportunities to discuss these matters in due course.

Please hold all those affected - pupils, families, staff, governors and alumni - in your prayers. We remain deeply grateful for your compassion, and for the love and history that Fulneck represents to so many.

Sr Roberta Hoey and Br Michael Newman

On behalf of the Fulneck School Trustees