Parents confident of saving school after raising £1.3m

PARENTS who send their children to a private school threatened with closure say they are confident they can save it after raising a target £1.3m.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

The money was donated in a matter of weeks after the shock announcement by the owners of St Clare's School, Porthcawl, that they were closing it.

Owner Cognita said the school was successful academically, but "economic volatility" and "factors beyond our control" meant it would have to shut at the end of the Christmas term this year.

In a letter to parents, Cognita also blamed the falling local birth rate. The company said projected pupil numbers for next academic year make the school "unsustainable."

Parents determined to save the school disagree and say they now have a "viable" plan to keep the school open and hopefully in the same location. The building and grounds are owned by the Dalton family, which leases them to Cognita, the group said.

Speaking on behalf of the campaign to save St Clare's, Natasha Bray, who has two children at the school said: "We have raised £1.3m, which is phenomenal. We have had amazing support from parents and the local community. We have set up a charitable trust and are continuing to explore options."