Nacton: Parents’ shock at school closure

Amberfield school Archant

A SUFFOLK private school is to close at the end of the month after it recorded “unsustainable financial losses”.

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Amberfield School in Nacton, near Ipswich, was founded in 1927 but a statement on the school website said it had been hit by a drop in pupil numbers in recent years, which had led to “significant losses”.

Chairman of governors, Alistair Lang said: “This is a very sad day which I know will be a body blow to our pupils, parents and staff.

“Amberfield is a small school which has been a real strength for its many pupils over the years. But its small size and its particular style in this difficult economic climate has made it increasingly difficult to keep afloat. “Despite a great deal of effort behind the scenes in recent weeks we have reluctantly accepted we have no option but to close the school.”

Amberfield is an independent day school for girls aged two to 16 and boys aged two to seven.

The school currently has 157 pupils and employs 32 teaching staff and 23 non teaching staff.

Governors and staff led by headmistress Linda Ingram will work with schools and parents to get the pupils in to new schools as soon as possible.

Mrs Ingram said: “My heart goes out to all our wonderful pupils and staff – this really is a sad day for us all. We are determined to do everything we can to ensure the transition of our pupils and our staff to new schools and jobs as quickly and easily as possible.”

Parents received letters this morning notifying them of the closure, one said it was “quite shocking” that they had been informed in such a way.