Malaysian education firm to revive school after shock closure

Institution to reopen century-old building with International Baccalaureate later this year

A private school on the edge of Perthshire is set to reopen this summer.

Beaconhurst School in Bridge of Allan shut suddenly last year, and its senior pupils were moved to Morrison’s Academy in Crieff just days before the summer break.

The two schools had considered a merger last year, but this was dismissed after it emerged that parents were looking to enrol their children in schools closer to Beaconhurst, rather than make the 40-mile round trip to Crieff.

But now an International Baccalaureate from southeast Asia is preparing to reopen the school which officially closed last September.

Malaysian education giants Fairview International Schools have moved into the vacant building on the town’s Kenilworth Road.

The company, founded in 1978, is set to open its first UK school in August, with up to 200 kids moving into the building later this year. This will bring the school roll to around 75 pupils more than at the time of its closure.

Fairview currently teaches around 3,000 pupils and have said that they will look to bring in students and staff from both the local area and overseas.

A spokesperson confirmed that due to the nature of the closure, the 100-year-old building is almost ready to reopen, with the team admitting the premises needs minor work, which is already under way, before being fit to relaunch.

The team behind what will eventually be an all-through school have stated that their six year groups will have no more than 25 pupils in each class, with plans for a nursery further down the line.

When Beaconhurst closed in 2018, a statement from the school’s senior management team read: “It is with deep sadness that I lock this wonderful school up for the last time.

“Beaconhurst, I had so many plans – this was to be the best small school in Scotland! Perhaps it still will be and you will hear it here first. Until then...”

An open day will be held at the school next month for pupils and parents but fees for the new term have not yet been confirmed.

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This was to be the best small school in Scotland! Perhaps it still will be... BEACONHURST SCHOOL SENIOR MANAGEMENT