Bid to rescue private school backed by council

A bid to save a 133-year-old independent school from closing has the backing of town councillors.

Malvern Town Council has thrown its support behind the Save MSJ group, which is trying to secure the future of Malvern St James School in Worcestershire.

Owner Galaxy Global Education announced in April the school, which was founded in 1893, was set to close at the end of the summer term due to financial challenges, leaving nearly 200 pupils looking for a new school.

At a recent meeting, Malvern Town Council overwhelmingly backed a motion to support efforts to keep the school open and has now set up a working group to engage with stakeholders.

Parents have expressed their dismay by the closure and said they were "devastated" by the news, amid concerns around the impact on their children.

Save MSJ, which had attended the meeting with the authority, said it had found an "incredibly supportive investor" to lead a takeover bid.

Former mayor Clive Hooper as well as Councillor Josephine Leibrandt called for the authority to help secure the future of the school as a "viable educational establishment."

Hooper said it was a "unique opportunity" to preserve something of immense value to Malvern and the school had played a "significant role" in the town's history and heritage.

"We encourage all parties to work together in good faith to achieve an outcome that protects the school, its staff, its pupils and the wider community," he said.

Galaxy Global Education previously said it would give "serious consideration" to all proposals but confirmed the school would close at the end of the school year.

"Our priority throughout this process has been the welfare and educational continuity of our pupils, and we are pleased that the overwhelming majority of families have now secured destination schools for September," it said.

"We understand the strength of feeling within the community and appreciate the efforts made by those seeking alternative solutions."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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