Private school rescued after threat of closure
New director at helm of 90-year-old Sutton Coldfield institution
AHISTORIC private school in Birmingham which was due to close for good has been saved.
The Shrubbery School, in Walmley Ash Road, Sutton Coldfield, which announced its demise just last month, will now stay open.
In a letter the directors of The Shrubbery School Ltd, confirmed the completion of a deal to save it.
Current directors have resigned and the school will now be led by new managing director, Craig Johnson, a governor at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys.
The move comes just days after a letter from owner Eric Allen said the proposed sale had fallen through.
Mr Allen said: “Regrettably, we have to inform you that we have been unable to conclude this sale and as a result the school will be closing on July 16, 2021 as previously indicated.”
But now a statement by the new directors said: “The Shrubbery School are delighted to announce, with the help and assistance of Andrew Mitchell MP, that exchange of legal contracts has taken place to
save the school. The current owner, Mr Eric Allen and his fellow directors are over the moon that the 90 years of The Shrubbery School will continue for many years to come.
It continued: “With immediate effect, the current directors have resigned and the school will now be led by Craig Johnson, who is governor of King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys and founded a residential home for young adults with severe learning disabilities and autism.
“Craig will be the managing director of the Shrubbery School Ltd with immediate effect.”
The new owners have said current head teacher, Amanda Lees, will stay in her role, and she is looking forward to a ‘new and exciting chapter’ for the school.
It also said there is no risk of parts of the site being sold off, with the new owners saying ‘nothing will change’.
The statement added: “The new owners wanted to reassure students, parents and staff that with all the upheaval of the last few weeks that they are fully committed to continuing the Shrubbery as a school.
“As such they have entered into a voluntary covenant to prevent any redevelopment of the school site.”