A prestigious independent school in the Cotswolds will shut its doors for good in the coming months after more than a hundred years of operation.
Rendcomb College, situated near Cirencester on the Gloucestershire portion of the Oxfordshire border, has confirmed permanent closure set for this summer.
This brings an end to 106 years of educating day pupils and boarders in the Cotswolds region.
The private school, which took on its inaugural cohort in 1920, currently has roughly 380 young people enrolled.
According to the institution, current and projected intake figures, combined with the difficult economic conditions facing fee-charging schools, have made continued operation impossible.
Trustees reluctantly sanctioned the college’s shutdown following the end of the 2025-26 academic year, after exploring every other viable possibility, including potential mergers, different ownership models and supplementary income sources.
The announcement explained that despite Rendcomb College’s exceptionally strong performance record as an educational institution, present and projected student numbers combined with the financial landscape affecting independent schools nationwide do not support the school’s future financial viability.
The difficult decision was therefore made that the institution will close at the year’s end.
Staff and governors took every step to make Rendcomb College an excellent school, and its closure is a great tragedy though sadly unavoidable.
For many years, the college depended on significant financial assistance from the Rendcomb College Foundation.
While this support allowed the school to continue operating until now, the considerable deficit rise for this year and the financial projections for the following year mean such assistance is no longer sustainable.
This is an extremely sad decision after thoroughly examining all alternatives, including collaborations and other funding methods.
Focus now turns to helping pupils find appropriate alternative education and assisting highly professional and committed staff in finding new positions.
Wycliffe College, another independent establishment in Gloucestershire, has indicated it can welcome affected Rendcomb pupils across all year groups and will maintain current fee levels for those moving into certain year levels, aiming to minimise disruption.
The closure adds to growing concern about difficulties facing private schools throughout the region, following several significant warnings about the impact of rising costs and the imposition of VAT on educational charges.
In Oxfordshire, Our Lady’s Abingdon, a 160-year-old Catholic independent day school, ended operations in 2025.
Several economic pressures were cited, including the planned addition of VAT to school fees, higher National Insurance payments, removal of business rate relief and falling pupil numbers.
Carrdus School, a preparatory establishment serving the Banbury area, also confirmed closure in 2025 due to financial difficulties.