An independent school in Hampstead, north London, has closed suddenly after it was bought out by a large schools group, the Camden New Journal reports.
Lyndhurst House prep school in Lyndhurst Gardens posted a message on its website saying that governors had made the “difficult decision” to shut.
The prep’s closure comes hot on the heels of a number of others around the country as the academic year has drawn to a close, including Ashbrooke House in Weston-super-Mare.
The school for boys aged between four and 13, founded in 1952, was taken over by Dukes Education in March this year.
At the time the takeover was announced, Dukes said that current headteacher Andrew Reid would be retiring and replaced by Nadia Ward, who had been deputy headteacher at another Dukes school, Eaton House.
In a statement, Dukes Education cited a recent ‘significant reduction’ in pupil numbers. It told the Camden New Journal that guaranteeing them a place at nearby Hampstead schools owned by Dukes, Devonshire House or Heathside School, would ensure they “continue to receive an outstanding education”.
Lyndhurst House’s recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in 2019 praised it for providing “excellent” personal development for children and its academic achievements.
A spokesperson for Dukes Education said: “The governors of Lyndhurst House school have taken the difficult decision to close the school. Lyndhurst House has seen a significant reduction in pupil numbers recently and it was decided that offering the boys a place at Devonshire or Heathside is the best option to ensure all the Lyndhurst pupils continue to receive an outstanding education.”
The spokesperson added: “We will also be supporting all the staff at Lyndhurst House to find potential roles within the Dukes Education family. The Lyndhurst House building will become part of Devonshire House.”
