A UK private school has confirmed it will close this summer, with more than 200 pupils to attend new schools in September.
Galaxy Global Education, the owner of Malvern St James, has said its consultation on the boarding school’s future has come to a conclusion after revealing that it could close at the end of the school year.
This means its final school day will be Wednesday, July 8, marking an end to its 133-year history.
The confirmation of the closure of Malvern St James comes despite offers from a group of parents and former pupils to buy the school and secure its future.
Galaxy Global has said it will give “serious consideration” to all proposals.
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In a statement, it also confirmed that the “overwhelming majority” of its approximately 270 pupils have found places at other schools for the upcoming school year.
What Galaxy Global has said
“We can confirm that Malvern St James will close at the end of term,” a spokesperson said.
“Our priority throughout this process has been the welfare and educational continuity of our pupils, and we are pleased that the overwhelming majority of families have now secured destination schools for September.
“We understand the strength of feeling within the community and appreciate the efforts made by those seeking alternative solutions.
“We will continue to give all proposals serious consideration, but our focus remains on supporting pupils, families and staff through the final weeks of term and ensuring that students are able to continue their education successfully beyond Malvern St James.”
News of a possible closure were first revealed in April, after letters were sent to parents and staff explaining that the school was facing a £6million shortfall and declining pupil numbers. It said this came amid the financial challenges of the introduction of VAT on school fees, the removal of business rates relief and rising employment costs.
At the time, it was felt that there was “no realistic prospect” of reversing these challenges.
The school said that arrangements were being made for pupils in examination years to sit these as normal, while conversations were underway with other local schools to arrange alternative places for September.
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133 years of history
Founded in 1893, Malvern Girls’ College eventually moved to its current site in the former Imperial Hotel on Avenue Road in 1919.
In 2006, Malvern Girls’ College merged with St James’ school, which itself had merged with The Abbey School in 1979, to become Malvern St James.
HISTORY: The Imperial Hotel, which is now the site of Malvern St James (Image: Supplied)
New owners take over
In 2025, the school was purchased by Galaxy Global Education Group, a Chinese group, which also took on other UK private schools.
A short time later, it was announced that boys would be accepted from September 2025, a move that was met with backlash from parents and pupils who favoured single-sex education.
Then in January 2026, headmaster Gareth Lloyd left the role, with the school saying he had taken an “early retirement”
The following month, staff were offered voluntary redundancy as part of a period of “restructuring”.