Stoke College, an independent school in Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk, has shut permanently after financial challenges. The school, which traced its origins to a religious college founded in 1415, educated pupils aged 11 to 18 and closed at the end of the summer term on July 1, 2026.
History and fees
The school operated as a school since 1954, but the site has centuries of religious use dating back to 1415. Stoke College was bought by new owners in November 2019. Day pupils paid fees up to £19,662 a year, while boarding cost up to £38,421.
Liquidation
According to The Gazette, a liquidator was appointed on July 22, 2026. Joe Whiley of Insolvency Direct Ltd has been appointed liquidator. The latest publicly available financial documents for Cambridge Stoke College Ltd show an after-tax loss of £1.6m for 2024.
Reasons for closure
The school attributed the closure to financial challenges, including the introduction of VAT on school fees, which the government brought in to help pay for more state school teachers in England. It also cited "the removal of business rates relief, rising employment costs and increasing operational expenditure."
Students and support
The closure came as a shock to many, as the school hosted an open morning in May and was advertising for new admissions. At the time of closure, it had 119 students.
In a statement, the school said: "The school will not operate beyond the end of the summer term and does not intend to reopen for the 2026–27 academic year." Announcing the closure, it added: "The immediate priority is to support students, families and staff through this transition and to ensure continuity of education for every child."
Stoke College said it would work with nearby independent schools to help secure places for children. Principal Kim Terrar said: "This is an incredibly sad day for everyone connected with Stoke College. While we do not yet know what the future holds for this beautiful site, my focus now is on finding the best way forward for our incredible students and staff."
