**Parents Rally to Save St Clare’s School in Porthcawl After £1.3 Million Fundraising Drive**
Parents at St Clare’s School in Porthcawl have launched an impressive campaign to avoid the closure of their children’s school, raising an extraordinary £1.3 million in only a few weeks. This collective effort came as a response to a surprise closure announcement from the school’s owners, Cognita UK, citing growing financial challenges and demographic shifts as the reason for their decision.
The private school, which caters for pupils from nursery age up to sixth form, was informed last month that it faced imminent closure at the end of the December term. Parents and staff were left shocked and deeply concerned for the future of the around 150 young people currently attending. The announcement sparked a rapid mobilisation amongst the school community, eager to protect both educational provision and the unique sense of belonging fostered by St Clare’s.
According to Cognita, St Clare’s still performs strongly on the academic front. However, the owners referenced “economic volatility” and a regional decline in birth rates as major pressures making the school’s future “unsustainable”. Feedback to parents also indicated a falling demand for independent schools in the area, leading to an anticipated drop in pupil numbers that would threaten the school’s long-term viability.
Refusing to accept what many saw as a premature end, parents quickly organised a series of fundraising initiatives bolstered by significant support from the wider Porthcawl community. Spokesperson Natasha Bray, who has two children enrolled at St Clare’s, described the overwhelming reaction: “Raising £1.3 million in such a short period is truly remarkable. The unity and generosity of both parents and our neighbours has been key, and we now believe we have a credible plan to safeguard the school’s future.”
A charitable trust has been established to manage the raised funds and to explore viable long-term solutions. Efforts are ongoing to secure the current site, which is owned by the Dalton family and leased to Cognita. Discussions with potential partners—including Ffynone House, another South Wales independent school recently saved in similar circumstances—are also underway as campaigners consider various operational models to keep St Clare’s open.
Despite a sense of optimism, the community is not without anxiety. “The longer the uncertainty drags on, the more families consider moving their children elsewhere,” Bray acknowledged. “However, there are many pupils desperate to remain, and our hope is that a solution will emerge in time to halt the exodus.”
The emotional attachment to St Clare’s runs deep among staff and families alike. Owing to its small size and broad age range, the school is described by many as a “family and community.” One of the school’s most attractive features is its continuity, with some students attending for their entire school career, from age three through to 18.
For students approaching critical examination years, including GCSEs and A-levels, the timing of the closure warning has been especially distressing. With many still uncertain about where or how they will continue their studies, the stakes for finding an alternative are particularly high.
Cognita’s management has assured parents that every effort will be made to help students secure alternatives, should the closure go ahead. However, communication from Nicola Lambros, Cognita UK’s general manager, emphasised that the issue was not linked to academic quality but grounded in shifting local realities. The school currently charges fees between £2,000 and £6,000 per term, yet even these rates have apparently not been enough to stabilise finances.
As rescue efforts gather pace, the Save St Clare’s Trust continues to keep parents informed and involved. The final outcome now likely depends on complex negotiations, not only with the current site owners and Cognita, but with external partners and advisors. Both determination and uncertainty remain, with the story serving as a potent illustration of the broader challenges facing independent schools across Wales and the wider UK.
The months ahead will show whether community resolve and innovative thinking can secure a new chapter for this longstanding Porthcawl institution—further updates are anticipated as talks progress.