Ruthin School, a historic co-educational boarding and day school in North Wales that has operated for 742 years, will close permanently at the end of the current term. The announcement, made by Chinese-owned Galaxy Global Education Group, has left approximately 240 pupils and over 100 staff facing uncertainty, with parents describing the news as a shock.
Closure Details and Immediate Impact
Galaxy Global, which purchased the school in early 2023, confirmed the closure on the same day it announced the shutdown of Durham High School. Ruthin School will enter financial administration upon closure. Parents were informed at 4pm on the day of the announcement, with fees collected from families paying monthly just hours earlier.
One mother from Ruthin said: "It's a high surprise to parents like me. We found out today at 4pm, and I have had a 12-year-old crying her eyes out all evening." A parent from Mold added: "It's awful. Not sure how we are going to move forward. One going into year 11 and one going into year 7. We're all shocked beyond belief and so, so sad."
Academic Excellence and Financial Struggles
Despite its long history and strong academic standing, the school could not remain financially viable. It was recently named the leading independent school in North Wales in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 and ranked among the UK's top boarding schools by the Independent Schools Council. A Galaxy Global spokesperson stated: "Despite every effort to secure the school's future, it has not been possible to establish a financially viable way forward."
Broader Context and Reactions
Ruthin School was established in 1284, making it one of the oldest educational institutions in the UK. The school was bought via a newly formed entity called Ruthin Education Ltd. The closure has forced parents to urgently seek alternative schools for their children, with one parent of a Durham High pupil noting: "The girls were advised to clear their lockers this afternoon."
Galaxy Global expressed being "profoundly sorry" and described the closure as "incredibly sad" for everyone associated with the school. The news has triggered an outpouring of grief from the school community, with many taking to social media to express their sadness.
