Shrewsbury High to close?

[Cuckoo10]

Pupil Numbers are down and they seem to have lost quite a few good members of staff recently. They’ve had to merge some of the classes apparently and the head has been sending out emails asking parents to complain more politely!!!! I’d be more worried that I was getting complaints rather than how they are phrased. Does anyone on the inside know? Although they usually tell the parents last?

Does your child attend the school?

Friends child is there and I’m thinking about it but obviously don’t want to move to a school that’s going to shut?

What makes you think they are going to close?

Yep, classes are being merged. I think it's because the class sizes have been getting too small, so they're going to merge some of them.

Can only assume numbers are down like in a lot of private schools. There have been a few other issues though as well. Will have to see what pans out.

Low pupil numbers and obviously they will be affected by taxes on private schools. I suppose they’ve got the GDST propping them up

What other issues have been going on?

One for another day. Or 2, or 3 !

I’m intrigued! You’d hope you’d avoid issues by going private - it costs enough

Sometimes the schools with money can cover things up more easily.

That’s a very valid point

Noting that they are leaving the GDST and transferring to new owners at the end of the year, with a couple of month’s notice.

Mmmmm.

Apologies for misplaced apostrophe: a couple of months’ notice.

I find it mostly odd the school is raised on mumsnet again. I have no skin in the game. Live in a different county.

Is there actual drama or a bit of a vendetta going on here? I’m more inclined to the latter.

Edit to add: Have just realised this is a rehashed thread

Check accounts for past few years. A private school closed near us everyone was up in arms about tax then parents dug into finances they had been make a loss for nearly 5 years

Looks like the GDST are selling them off. Wonder who will be next.

Apologies for resurrecting the thread - I have no vendetta against the school, more interested in news about an institution I had seen mentioned a couple of times on MN recently, in an ‘oh, this is what happened next’ way.

You were right. Sold to the Inspired Learning Group, who seem to specialise in nurseries at first glance.
Really hope it stays as a school. It's an iconic landmark and part of the Town's history. I did see that they pulled the 'Reviews' on FB after a few bad ones about a teacher there though. The ILG will hopefully sort any problems the school seem to have had recently.

Looks like a school that will probably be turned into a nursery think we will look elsewhere. What were the teacher issues?

There were a few recent reviews talking about a teacher swearing at children. Assume that's why they took all the reviews down, although taking every review down seems a bit ott.

I'm pretty sure it's NOT closing!

A qucik Google search brough up this.

Shrewsbury High School is

not closing.

Instead, it is transitioning from the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) to the Inspired Learning Group (ILG), with plans to become fully co-educational in the future. The school is remaining open, with staff transferring to the new ownership to ensure uninterrupted education.
Key details regarding the school's future:

• New Ownership: In November 2025, it was announced that ILG would take over the school to secure its long-term future amid changing market conditions.
• Shift to Co-ed: The school is moving toward a co-educational model, with plans to welcome boys across all junior school years starting in September 2026.
• Operational Status: The school remains in operation at its town-centre site.
• Staff Continuity: The Head, Darren Payne, and all teaching and support staff are transferring to the new owner.

The school is actively accepting new students and holding taster days for the 2026/2027 academic year.

@BatchCookBabe why are they going co-ed is it low pupil numbers? Or trying to create a different atmosphere at the school ? Seems strange to get rid of their USP - lots of other co ed schools around with better results

Very good question. As one of the only all girls schools in the area, this was clearly why many parents chose SHS for their daughters. By going co-ed, they are now competing directly with other schools in the area who have had much better results-and not just private schools. Many of the other private schools also have more space and facilities. I really hope the marketing is going well and there are the numbers coming in that they hope for. Just a shame for those wanting an all girls school locally.

A quick look at Companies House shows that the new parent company of SHS, Inspired Learning Group, is very late in filing their accounts, they should have been filed last August (2025). There is also a strike off notice, since discontinued. There can sometimes be explanations for that which don't indicate financial issues, but if sending a pupil to SHS I would be asking the bursar for further detail.

My worry for current parents is that they are often the last to know if a school is closing giving them very little time to find alternatives