Two independent Catholic schools in Derbyshire, Mount St Mary’s College in Spinkhill and Balborough Hall School, have shut their doors after the charitable trust running them entered administration.
The closure follows years of financial difficulties, which began in 2015, with the schools relying on over £3m in loans from the Jesuits in Britain charity. Despite efforts to find a new owner, the trust was unable to secure a viable solution, with a growing debt load and no clear path to financial recovery.
The trust cited wider industry challenges, including the introduction of VAT on school fees in January and the removal of business rates relief for independent schools, both of which have placed additional pressure on the sector.
Mount St Mary’s College and Balborough Hall, both established in the 19th century, became a charitable trust in 2004. The school closures impact pupils, staff, and families, and further updates will be provided soon.
Industry data suggests that around 50 private schools in the UK close each year due to financial pressures and declining student enrolments. In this case, the trust had been operating a significant deficit for over five years, even before the end of tax breaks in 2025.
