A NORTH-East high school has announced it is to close.

Sunderland High School, on Mowbray Road in the city, will close at the end of the current academic year, a statement on its website reads.

Jon Coles, Chief Executive of United Church Schools Trust, said that despite the school's 'deserved reputation as an excellent school, the economic reality is that current and projected pupil numbers cannot secure the school’s long-term future'.

Numbers have fallen from more than 580 at the independent school in 2006 to around 280 today – reflecting, Mr Coles said, a decline across the North-East.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Jon Coles - 'we cannot justify continuing a long-term subsidy of the school'.

"Despite the continued high quality of education at the school, this fall in numbers has meant that the school has been making a significant financial loss and is no longer viable," he said.

During the last five years, United Church Schools Trust has subsidised the school’s budget significantly, he said.

"Alongside this, the school has made strenuous efforts to cut costs without reducing quality and to reverse the decline in numbers," Mr Coles said. "Substantial savings have been made but the school will still make a six figure loss this year and was projected to do so again next year.

"In addition, in order to maintain the school’s facilities and estate, substantial capital investment is required.

"We have reached the point at which any further cost savings would now directly impact on the quality of education on offer. In that context, we cannot justify continuing a long-term subsidy of the school.

"As a charity, our only source of funds is from our other schools and ultimately fee-paying parents there. While we are very prepared to invest in schools for as long as there is a realistic prospect of them breaking even, we cannot justify doing so when there is no longer that prospect.

"I deeply regret that we have had to take this decision, which I know will come as a shock and considerable disappointment to parents, pupils and staff. It has become necessary because we have explored all other avenues for keeping the school open without success.

"Once we concluded that all other options had been exhausted, we wanted to give everyone as much notice as possible so that over the coming weeks and months we provide any assistance we can to ease the transition for pupils into other schools and staff into new jobs."

To reassure parents, Mr Coles said:

• The school will function as normal until the end of the academic year;

• Every year group will continue to study its full curriculum until the end of the academic year;

• Exams will proceed as expected for Years 11 and 13;

• All previously announced trips, visits and wider activities will continue as planned, subject to parental demand.

"We have begun discussions with other local schools in both the independent and state sector in order to identify where suitable places may be available and, specifically, where there is a fit for pupils who have already begun exam courses," he said. 

Meetings will be held for parents on Wednesday (January 20) at the following times: 

• 4 pm - Junior School parents (in the Junior School);

• 5 pm - Year 11 and 13 parents (in Langham Tower);

• 6 pm - Year 7 to 9 parents (in the Junior School); • 7 pm - Year 10 and 12 parents (in Langham Tower).

Alternatively, if unable to attend the meetings and have questions, parents can email sunderland@unitedlearning.org.uk.

"The decision to close the school is one that we have tried to avoid by exploring every other option to keep the school open including mergers, academisation and acquiring other schools in the area," added Mr Coles.

"None of these, however, has proved to be possible and we believe that we have exhausted every possibility for keeping the school open.

"There is no good time to take such a decision or make such an announcement but I hope that doing so this early in the term maximises the time for you to find an alternative school that works well for your child from September."

Sunderland High School opened in 1884 as one of the founding schools of the charity that is now United Church Schools Trust (UCST).

There are currently 75 employees at the school and it is understood a redundancy consultation exercise will now be held.

Speaking to The Northern Echo on Monday evening, one parent said: "Both of our children along with other family members have attended Sunderland High School over the past few years and we are so sad to hear the news; it has been a wonderful, nurturing and supportive school with first rate staff who go above and beyond.

"I can safely say that many families will be devastated to learn of the closure." 

Another said: "It would be good to see mention of the fantastic teaching and support staff who are after all losing their jobs.  

"Children are resilient, yes they will be sad to leave their friends and a school they love, but the state has a responsibility to find them suitable school places, as parents it may not be our first choice but they will move forward and be educated.  

"If the children are sad it’s because of the fantastic environment the staff have provided for them. My son has been at SHS since the week of his second birthday - he is now ten, they have helped make him the confident boy he is today and I will be for ever grateful that he had such a brilliant start."  

 

  • Do you have pupils at the school? Email newsdesk@nne.co.uk with your reaction.