School announces unexpected closure at the end of academic year

An independent school in Buckhurst Hill has announced its closure at the end of this academic year, following the sale of its premises. The Oak Tree Group announced the news earlier this month, as they were unable to purchase the premises, claiming that it was “significantly out of reach for us” and that after extensive refurbishments recently, the closure “had not been in our plans.”

In a letter to Friends of Braeside School, group managing principal Matthew Hagger shared: “Braeside has been operating in leased premises since the founder placed the site in a Trust in 1972. Since she died in 1985, the Trust has been administered by a local legal practice. When we acquired the Braeside business in September 2015, we were unable to purchase the freehold, so we took over the long-standing lease.

“The beneficiaries of the Trust decided to sell the premises earlier this year at a price that was significantly out of reach for us. I have been liaising with the new owner over the last few months in an attempt to align our continuing interests with theirs. However, the purchaser has designated the site for development and the ongoing occupation of Braeside School in the long term is not part of their future plans for the site. This means that Braeside School will cease to operate from July 2025 and will close at the end of this academic year.”

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Braeside is expected to operate as normal until the end of the summer term in 2025. The Oak Tree Group has shared plans to minimise the impact the closure will have on children's education. They added: “We are making available places for all Braeside pupils to transfer to the other schools in the Oak-Tree Group and we are working closely with families to facilitate the moves. We will also be looking to offer all current Braeside staff redeployment to the other Oak-Tree Schools from September 2025.

"We own the premises at each of the other schools so there cannot be a repeat of this situation.”Mr Hagger added: “This is a sad time for Braeside. However, we still have the best part of the academic year left together and we are committed to making what will be the 81st and final year of the school the best that it can possibly be for the whole school community.”