Aigburth School to Close After Building Sale 2026

Key Points

• Liverpool school closure: Belvedere Preparatory School in Aigburth closes at the end of the autumn term in 2026.
• It was revealed that the premises have been sold during the summer.
• Students need to find other schools to attend from January 2027 onwards.
• A staff redundancy consultation process is underway.
• According to the owners of the school, the closure was caused by reduced number of students and higher operational costs.
• The reasons mentioned included VAT on fees, absence of business rates and higher National Insurance contributions.
• The number of students is believed to reduce from 140 students in September 2024 to 94 full fee paying students in September 2026.
• Premises are acquired by a firm that plans to open a special school for students with disabilities.
• Parents reported getting the news via a WhatsApp group just prior to the start of the autumn term.
• The school premises will operate till December 22, 2026.

Aigburth (Liverpool standard) September 2, 2026 – Liverpool school closing down after the owners confirmed that the school building has been sold and that the fee-paying institution will shut at the end of the autumn term.

The decision affects pupils, parents and staff at Belvedere Preparatory School on Belvidere Road in Aigburth. Families have been told that children will need to find alternative school places for January 2027, while employees have entered a redundancy consultation process.

The announcement was made in an email sent by the school’s owners on Tuesday morning, September 2, according to the Liverpool Echo. The publication reported that parents and teaching staff were informed only two days before the beginning of the autumn term.

The school will continue operating until December 22, after which it is expected to close. The owners said the building had been sold during the summer to a company that wants to convert the site into a specialist school for children with special educational needs and disabilities, commonly referred to as SEND.

Why is Belvedere Preparatory School closing?

The owners of Belvedere Preparatory School said the closure was caused by financial pressures linked to falling pupil numbers and rising costs.

In a letter sent to families, proprietors Bill and Kate Currie wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that we are writing to you to inform you of the very sad news that Belvedere Preparatory School will close at the end of the Autumn Term.”

They said the introduction of VAT on school fees, the withdrawal of business rates relief and higher National Insurance contributions had contributed to a “substantial downturn” in pupil numbers and a “significant increase” in costs.

The proprietors stated that the school was losing a large amount of money and that its financial position was no longer sustainable.

The owners also reported a decline in pupil numbers at the main school. According to the figures included in the letter, the number of pupils fell from 140 in September 2024 to 94 full-fee-paying pupils for September 2026.

The figures were presented by the school’s owners as evidence of the financial pressure facing the institution. The letter did not indicate that the school would continue beyond the end of the autumn term.

When will the Liverpool school close?

Belvedere Preparatory School is expected to close at the end of the autumn 2026 term.

The owners told parents that the school would remain open until December 22, 2026. Pupils will then need to attend new schools from January 2027.

The closure means families have several months to seek alternative placements, although parents quoted by the Liverpool Echo criticised the timing of the announcement. They said the news was communicated shortly before the beginning of the new school year, leaving limited time to consider options and contact other schools.

The school’s owners described their letter as formal notice of the closure. They also said they would provide support to pupils, parents and staff during the transition period.

How did parents learn about the closure?

Some parents said they found out about the decision through a WhatsApp group before receiving direct communication from the school.

One parent, who spoke to the Liverpool Echo anonymously, said they first saw information about the closure in a parents’ WhatsApp group at lunchtime on September 1.

The parent told the publication that they did not initially understand what was happening. They later learned that an email had been sent to families, but said not everyone had received it, including themselves.

According to the parent, some families therefore heard for the first time through WhatsApp that the school would close after the autumn term and that children would need new school places by January.

The Liverpool Echo said it understood that the owners sent emails and hard-copy letters to parents on the same day. Staff were also informed on that day.

The parent criticised the timing of the announcement, saying it came only two days before pupils were due to return. They said families had little time to organise alternative school places, while staff had limited opportunity to look for new jobs before the start of the academic year.

What have parents said about the decision?

Parents quoted by the Liverpool Echo described the announcement as unexpected and deeply upsetting.

One parent said there had been no prior consultation, warning or invitation for families to discuss the school’s future. They said this meant parents had no opportunity to explore whether the school could be saved or to prepare their children for the closure.

The parent also said families had been forced to explain the situation to their children shortly before they were due to return to school.

They described the closure as a major upheaval for pupils, parents and staff because the school community had received the news without what they considered sufficient notice.

The parent said it was already difficult to find school places and teaching positions, and that the situation was particularly challenging because families were being required to make arrangements during the academic year rather than before it began.

The comments were made by an anonymous parent to the Liverpool Echo and represent that individual’s account of the communication and its impact. The school’s owners said they would support those affected during the remaining term.

What will happen to the school staff?

All staff at Belvedere Preparatory School have been affected by the closure decision.

The frequently asked questions document sent to parents stated that a redundancy consultation covering all staff began on the same day families received the closure notification.

The document said staff were informed before parents, on the morning of the same day.

The consultation means employees are being formally informed about the proposed redundancies and are being given an opportunity to discuss the consequences. The material available from the Liverpool Echo did not state how many staff members were employed by the school or whether any roles would continue under the proposed specialist school.

The closure could affect teaching, administrative and support staff, although the published report did not provide a detailed breakdown of employees or their individual circumstances.

Who owns Belvedere Preparatory School?

The letter to parents was signed by Bill and Kate Currie, who are identified as the school’s owners and proprietors.

The Liverpool Echo reported that Bill Currie is the founder of William Currie Investments. The company’s website describes the business as specialising in retail, e-commerce and technology and lists The Belvedere Preparatory School among its investment portfolio.

The newspaper contacted Mr Currie for comment about the closure. He referred reporters to the contents of the letter and confirmed that he did not wish to add anything further.

The owners’ written explanation focused on the school’s financial position, lower pupil numbers and the sale of the site.

What is planned for the school site?

The site and buildings have been sold to a company that wants to create a specialist school for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The owners said the prospective purchaser approached them during the summer.

The reported plan would mean that the site could continue to be used for education, although the existing preparatory school would close. The published report did not identify the purchasing company, provide a proposed opening date or explain whether planning or regulatory approvals had been completed.

It is also unclear from the available information whether any Belvedere Preparatory School pupils or staff would transfer to the proposed specialist school.

The future use of the buildings will therefore depend on the purchaser’s plans and any relevant approval processes. The information confirmed by the owners was that the buyer intended to establish a SEND-focused school at the location.

What does the closure mean for pupils?

Pupils currently attending Belvedere Preparatory School will need to move to other schools from January 2027.

Parents will need to contact potential schools and assess available places, transport arrangements, fees and educational provision. Families may also need to consider how a move during the school year could affect children’s routines, friendships and academic progress.

For pupils approaching important transition points or examinations, parents may need to ask prospective schools about curriculum continuity and year-group availability. The information published by the Liverpool Echo did not provide details of arrangements with local schools or any formal admissions support.

The school is expected to continue teaching until December 22, giving families time to begin making alternative arrangements. However, the length of the transition will vary depending on each child’s year group and the availability of places.

The owners said they would do what they could to support everyone affected during the remaining period of operation.

What financial pressures did the owners identify?

The owners identified three principal pressures in their letter: VAT on school fees, the withdrawal of business rates relief and increased National Insurance contributions.

They said these measures contributed to higher costs and a fall in pupil numbers. The proprietors also stated that the school had become financially unsustainable because it was losing a large amount of money.

The owners linked the financial pressures to the decline from 140 pupils in September 2024 to 94 full-fee-paying pupils for September 2026.

The information does not establish whether those factors were the only reasons for the decline in enrolment. The figures and explanation were provided by the school’s proprietors in their communication to families and reported by the Liverpool Echo.

Background

Belvedere Preparatory School is a fee-paying school located on Belvidere Road in Aigburth, Liverpool. The school’s owners have confirmed that the site and buildings were sold during the summer of 2026.

The school is scheduled to remain open until December 22, 2026, before closing at the end of the autumn term. Pupils will need new placements for January 2027, and the school’s staff are subject to a redundancy consultation.

According to a letter signed by Bill and Kate Currie and reported by the Liverpool Echo, pupil numbers fell from 140 in September 2024 to 94 full-fee-paying pupils for September 2026. The owners attributed the financial difficulties to VAT on school fees, the removal of business rates relief and higher National Insurance contributions.

The proposed buyer intends to turn the site into a specialist school for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The available report did not confirm the purchaser’s identity, the planned opening date or whether the proposal has secured all necessary approvals.

Prediction: How could the closure affect Liverpool families?

The closure is likely to create short-term pressure for affected families as they search for alternative school places for January 2027. Parents may face challenges involving availability, fees, travel distances and the suitability of new schools for individual children.

The staff redundancy consultation could also lead to disruption for teachers and support workers, particularly because the process began shortly before the autumn term. Employees may need to seek new positions while continuing to support pupils through the final months of the school’s operation.

If the proposed SEND school proceeds, the site could remain an educational facility, but its role would change significantly. It could eventually provide specialist provision for children with additional needs, although the available information does not confirm when that school would open or how it would operate.

For Belvedere Preparatory School pupils, the immediate priority will be maintaining education until December 22 and securing suitable placements for January. The scale of the disruption will depend on how quickly alternative places become available and what support the school and relevant education authorities provide.