Parents Rally to Rescue Beloved St Clare’s School in Porthcawl Amid Imminent Closure
Parents and pupils at St Clare’s School and Nursery in Porthcawl have been thrown into turmoil following news that the cherished independent school is likely to close by the end of 2025. The notification, delivered via letter from Cognita UK, the educational group that owns the school, has struck at the heart of a community that describes St Clare’s as not just an institution, but a lifeline.
The disclosure came abruptly on 6 May, with parents learning of the plans just two hours after staff were informed. The letter cited economic instability, a declining local birth rate, and new tax regulations as the rationale behind the possible closure. For many families, however, it was the manner and timing of the announcement that compounded their distress, describing the process as abrupt and insensitive to the needs of children and parents alike.
What has followed is a groundswell of desperation, disbelief, and determination. Parents, refusing to accept what they see as the forced end of a unique educational environment, have swiftly united to form an action committee. Their ambition reaches beyond saving bricks and mortar; they are now rallying public support to preserve what they see as an irreplaceable community.
The group is already laying the groundwork to potentially transition St Clare’s into an independent, community-led model—ranging from a cooperative or social enterprise to charitable trust status. This ambition is not unprecedented; they draw inspiration from the neighbouring Ffynone House School in Swansea, another former Cognita site now thriving under charitable status. In a matter of weeks, parents are hoping to raise more than £1 million to purchase the school site and ensure continuity for its current and future pupils.
Supporters and well-wishers are encouraged to get involved or make donations, further highlighting how the campaign to save St Clare’s has grown into a collective effort by families from all walks of life. Many stress that they are not from privileged backgrounds; the majority have made significant financial sacrifices to provide their children with the focused support that St Clare’s offers—support that they say has proved life-changing for many children with additional educational needs.
Stories shared by parents highlight the transformative effect the school has had, especially for children with conditions such as dyslexia or anxiety. One parent recounted their struggle to find the right environment for their child, only to have St Clare’s deliver what had once seemed unattainable: “My child suffered anxiety, bullying, and academic setbacks before coming here. St Clare’s changed everything; it gave me my happy, thriving child back. Losing this option is unthinkable.”
The timing of the closure also raised concerns with many parents, particularly those with children preparing for GCSEs and A-Levels. The announcement has left families frantically seeking school placements at a time when state schools are reportedly full, and curricular discrepancies between independent and state education have heightened parents’ anxiety about an already challenging transition. For families with neurodiverse children, the alternatives are even more limited. “This is not a simple matter of transferring schools. The disruption comes at a critical stage of our children’s education—after years of pandemic instability,” explained Natasha Bray, mother of two St Clare’s students.
As the community seeks solutions, further questions have surfaced about the school’s founding purpose. Oral history recalls a covenant placed on the land by the nuns who originally operated the school, purportedly stipulating its use exclusively for educational purposes. Some parents worry that, if closed, the site could eventually stand empty—contradicting the legacy its founders intended.
Despite Cognita’s justification of financial instability and dwindling roll numbers, many in the community remain convinced that St Clare’s can not only survive but flourish with the right leadership and renewed vision. For numerous families, their attachment to the school is deeply personal. One father, Dai Dickson, shared a moving tribute to the way St Clare’s supported his three children through family tragedy after their mother was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. “The support was extraordinary, from adjusting for medical appointments to attending the funeral. Without St Clare’s, I genuinely believe we would not be healing as we are.”
Cognita’s Nicola Lambros, in a letter to parents, asserted that the proposed closure is due to circumstances beyond the school’s academic control, promising to assist parents in finding alternative school places should the closure proceed. Local and national education bodies have weighed in, with the Welsh Independent Schools Council highlighting recent tax reforms as a decisive factor affecting the sustainability of independent schools throughout Wales.
The challenge now, campaigners say, is to mobilise urgent financial donations, enlist business expertise, and enlist local authority support to offer the school a future beyond this year. For the families invested in St Clare’s, it represents more than a facility—it is the cornerstone of their children’s wellbeing, an environment where they have found understanding and hope. As one parent concluded, “We are not just saving a school; we are fighting for our children’s right to an education that lets them thrive.”
The fate of St Clare’s School may rest on how swiftly and effectively this determined parent-led movement can gather support and secure the resources needed to keep its doors open.