UK private school goes in liquidation after 165 years

Our Lady’s Abingdon, a private school in Radley Road founded in 1860, was forced to close permanently for financial reasons, according to its governors, who sent letters to parents in August alerting them to the news.

The Statement of Affairs submitted to Companies House revealed Our Lady’s Abingdon Trustees Ltd accumulated debts of £1,555,596 owed to 121 company creditors, and has gone into liquidation.

READ MORE: Private school could be sold this summer

Following the closure announcement, families had to scramble to find places for about 300 pupils at new schools, including state schools and private schools across the county.

Now it has emerged that the school buildings and school site is expected to be sold, which could be worth millions of pounds.

The buildings are expected to be sold during the summer by the owners, the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, based in Leeds.

A spokesperson said earlier this month: “Over the last six months, following the handover of the site from the liquidator, we have been working diligently to both clear and secure the Our Lady’s Abingdon site, as well as reflect on how best the site can be used moving forward.

“Meetings are ongoing about the site’s future, taking into account our obligations as a charity, and we are hopeful to be in a position to share more information in the early part of the summer.”  

In November, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran wrote to education secretary Bridget Phillipson, urging the Department for Education to do more to protect families affected by sudden school closures.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran (Image: Layla Moran)

She said at the time: “Students, families and teachers were shocked by the sudden closure of Our Lady’s Abingdon over the summer holidays.

“I saw the distress it caused to pupils and parents, particularly those completing their GCSEs and A-Levels.

“I was pleased to see Oxfordshire County Council respond so quickly given the difficult circumstances and find school places for students.

“Going forwards, there must be earlier dialogue between the local authorities and schools to ensure that pupils and parents interests are the number one priority.”

Reacting to news that the school site is expected to go on the market in the near future, Ms Moran said: “The closure of Our Lady’s Abingdon was a real blow for the community.

“I would be delighted if the site were to continue as an educational institution to improve and expand access to education in the area.”

Our Lady’s Abingdon (Image: Alastair Fear)

The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, a Catholic order of nuns in Leeds, said last year it hoped to find a “charitable” use for the land and buildings.

The spokesman said at the time: “Our hope is that, when the time is right, we can find a use for this site that enables us to meet our charitable obligations for our beneficiaries.”

Now it appears the institute will sell the school buildings although it has declined to provide any details at this stage.

Founded in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy, OLA was a small independent day school for pupils aged seven to 18.

The UK-based business ownership and management of OLA was transferred to the newly formed Our Lady’s Abingdon Trustees Limited in 2007.

To ensure that the buildings could continue to be used by the school, the institute entered into a 99-year lease arrangement with the limited company on terms that sought to secure the long-term future of Catholic education on the site.

Apart from the lease, the order’s only involvement with OLA was that a Sister was on the governing body up until 2022.