Independent school that has served Northampton for 40 years announces permanent closure

A local independent school that has served Northampton for a number of decades has announced it will close its doors for good this year.

St Peter’s Independent School in Lingswood Park, Blackthorn will not reopen at the start of the 2020/2021 school year, after trustees made the decision to close.

The non-selective independent school, which caters for boys and girls aged three to sixteen, celebrated its 40th anniversary towards the end of last year, when pupils got involved in a junior beekeeping initiative.Since it opened in 1979, the school has been a big part of the education sector in the town, however the current pandemic has greatly affected the school and its finances.

Headteacher, Julie Fenlon, said: "It is with great sadness that we have had to announce the closure of St. Peter’s Independent School Northampton having served the community for 40 years.

“I have had both a personal and professional connection with the school throughout its existence.

“It has been an absolute privilege to have been headteacher of the school I attended, my father taught at and I subsequently chose for my daughter’s education. She is currently at Warwick University.

The school, which is financed independently from authorities, has been hugely impacted by the current coronavirus pandemic and the effect on the economy, which has played a part in the decision to close.

Michael Dawe, the proprietor of the school, said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has had an adverse effect on the business model of the school.

“The trustees are also very saddened but in view of the length of time that the local economy is likely to recover it is best that the school closes now and not lingers on.”

Mrs Fenlon added: "Staff and members of the Board of Governors and trustees are overwhelmed by the number of kind messages on social media, via email and telephone calls from current and former parents and pupils and headteachers from other schools.

“The school remains open until the end of this academic year.”

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