More than 140 teachers and support staff face losing their jobs and almost 400 pupils will have to find new schools after the 120-year-old St Margaret’s School and St Hilary’s House in the Newington area of Edinburgh was forced into administration by falling numbers.
Some families held their own discussions with possible buyers, and set up a bank account for would-be bidders and their own website to raise awareness of their campaign.
The school, which caters mainly for girls and charges up to £2628 per term, will be forced to shut unless a buyer can be found after its assets were placed with provisional liquidator Blair Nimmo of KPMG.
The decision, which left teachers distraught, followed discussions with two other private girls schools, St George’s and Mary Erskine’s in the city, and the co-educational Edinburgh Academy, about the possibility of taking pupils.
KPMG has indicated that there are enough places available at these schools for St Margaret’s pupils.
According to KPMG, St Margaret’s has suffered a decline in pupil numbers over six years and despite the efforts of the board of governors is no longer a viable operation.
Parents and Friends Association chair Val Devlin, 40, said: “Parents were told by e-mail last night and it sent shockwaves around the community. But we have some very smart cookies among us in the parent community and we will not leave this school.
“We owe it to our children and the teachers too, who have basically been given two weeks’ notice by the board of governors.
“They have claimed the roll was falling but it actually rose by 19% in the past term. That proves it is a viable business and some mums and dads were up all night and off work today speaking to potential financiers.”
Miyra Nunez, 38, whose 10-year-old daughter started at St Margaret’s nursery aged just 15 months, said: “My daughter is devastated and so am I because we were never given a clue the financial position was so bad. As the top school in Edinburgh it is the last thing you expect. I would pay double for her to keep coming here and I have spoken to teachers willing to take a pay cut to keep it going.
“We have set up a bank account for funds, a website and a Facebook page and we are pooling all of our work skills.”
The school and nursery have 397 pupils and 143 staff – 69 teachers and 74 support workers – and will continue to operate under the provisional liquidator’s supervision through to the end of term. The school and nursery are due to close on June 29.
Parent Deborah Reid, 43, said: “It’s such a lovely school. We chose the school because it had such a lovely community feel to it, it was like a family.
“We are also very sad for the teachers who are losing their jobs. We will now have to start ringing around other schools.”
Nimmo, head of restructuring for KPMG in Scotland, said: “It is a very emotional time. A priority is to help find places for the pupils.
Mike Pringle, Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh South, said: “This is incredibly sad news and will obviously be a massive blow for pupils, parents and everyone else involved with the school.
Marilyne MacLaren, Edinburgh City Council’s education leader, said the council would provide places for those who cannot find a private school for their children.
Judith Sischy, director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, said the popularity of independent schools remained high during the downturn.
She added: “The circumstances at St Margaret’s are specific to St Margaret’s and we do not envisage these arising elsewhere in the sector.”
The school, which has charitable status, provides education for girls at nursery, primary and secondary level, from 18 months to 18 years old, and for boys at nursery and primary level, aged from 18 months to 10 years old.
It is believed to have had an average annual operating shortfall of £500,000, with a turnover of £3 million. Pupil numbers had declined from around 800 in recent years.
