Key Points
- Staff at LIPA Primary and High School in Liverpool city centre were informed on Friday morning, 27 February 2026, that the school will close permanently at the end of the academic year on 31 August 2026.
- The closure decision was agreed upon by the Secretary of State for Education and the school’s trustees amid financial deficits, poor performance, falling pupil numbers, and governance issues.
- The school, located on Upper Duke Street, caters to children aged 4 to 16 across primary and secondary levels.
- A letter to parents from Kevin Sexton, chair of the LIPA Multi Academy Trust, Paul Johnson, executive headteacher, and acting headteacher Claire McKendrick, detailed the reasons including substantial overspend over several years, a harsh Ofsted rating placing it in special measures, declining student enrolment, inadequate facilities, and national trends in falling birth rates.
- The Liverpool Echo has extensively reported on the school’s troubles over the past year, including major issues exposed in investigations.
- Year 6 pupils transitioning to secondary level have been placed in other local authority schools, with offers sent on 1 March 2026.
- Staff have been notified of the implications and offered full support, with appreciation expressed for their dedication.
- Previous incidents include a sudden closure for the rest of the term in July 2025 due to “unforeseen circumstances” following a damning Ofsted inspection that placed the school in special measures, as reported by the Mirror.
- The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed the decision “was not made lightly,” with a four-week consultation period to follow, according to BBC News.
- The school shares its name with the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) linked to Paul McCartney but is governed by a separate LIPA Multi Academy Trust.
Liverpool (Liverpool Standard) February 27, 2026 – Staff at LIPA Primary and High School were informed this morning that the troubled institution on Upper Duke Street in the city centre will shut down permanently at the end of the summer term on 31 August 2026, following agreement between the Secretary of State for Education and the school’s trustees over severe financial shortfalls, poor academic performance, and declining pupil numbers.
Why Is LIPA School Closing?
The closure stems from a combination of longstanding challenges that have rendered the school unsustainable. As detailed in a letter to parents reported by Ryan Paton of the Liverpool Echo, Kevin Sexton, chair of the LIPA Multi Academy Trust, Paul Johnson, the executive headteacher, and acting headteacher Claire McKendrick stated:
“Like you, we take great pride in LIPA School and the Vision it was established upon. However, the sustainability of the school has become increasingly difficult due to a variety of combined factors”.
These factors include a
“substantial overspend over several years, resulting in a significant historical financial shortfall,”
alongside an unsatisfactory Ofsted rating from the previous year that placed the school under special measures. The letter further highlighted a “notable” decrease in student enrolment, inadequate educational facilities, and the absence of feasible alternatives, exacerbated by local and national trends of declining birth rates.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the ECHO has exposed major issues at the school over the past year, contributing to the scrutiny that led to this decision.
What Did the Official Letter to Parents Say?
The letter, signed by the trust and school leaders, provided a comprehensive explanation for the closure. According to Ryan Paton of the Liverpool Echo in “Letter explains exactly why Liverpool’s LIPA School is being shut down,” the correspondence continued:
“While the new trust board and school leadership have exerted considerable effort to address these challenges and have explored all possible options, we are profoundly saddened to inform you that the Secretary of State for Education, along with the board of trustees, has made a definitive decision that the school should close as of August 31, 2026”.
It added:
“We deeply regret sharing this news and understand it will be a significant disappointment – we are very sympathetic to that sentiment”.
The letter also confirmed arrangements for affected pupils and staff, noting that Year 6 students planning to join the secondary phase have been successfully placed in other local authority schools, with offers issued on 1 March 2026.
Regarding staff, it stated:
“We have also communicated with the school staff, who have consistently shown such dedication and commitment to the children, to explain what closure means for them, while expressing our gratitude for their tremendous hard work. We are offering full support to our colleagues”.
When and How Were Staff Told?
Staff were called to a meeting on Friday morning, 27 February 2026, where they received the news directly. The Liverpool Echo’s initial report,
“Troubled Liverpool school set to shut down permanently,” revealed that “Staff have this morning been told that LIPA Primary and Secondary School… is set to be permanently closed when the summer term concludes amid financial and governance issues”.
This announcement aligns with social media posts from the Liverpool Echo on Facebook, stating:
“Staff have been told this morning” and
“LIPA Primary and High School in Liverpool city centre is set to shut down permanently at the end of the current academic year on 31 August 2026”.
What Is the History of Problems at LIPA School?
The school’s difficulties have been well-documented across multiple outlets. The Liverpool Echo has covered exposés on major issues over the past year, including a reference to prior reporting:
In July 2025, as reported by the Mirror in
“Liverpool LIPA schools shut immediately for rest of term in mysterious circumstances,”
the primary and secondary campuses closed abruptly for the remainder of the term due to “unforeseen circumstances.” This followed a “damning Ofsted inspection last week” that placed the school into special measures. Parents were notified without specific details on the circumstances.
The BBC’s coverage, “Performing arts school to shut permanently,” noted ongoing financial issues, performance problems, and facilities shortcomings for the Institute for Arts (IPA), serving ages 4 to 16. It clarified the school’s distinction from Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, despite the similar name.
Who Approved the Closure?
The decision required high-level governmental approval. The letter to parents, as cited by the Liverpool Echo, confirmed that
“the Secretary of State for Education, along with the board of trustees, has made a definitive decision”.
BBC News reported that this was in collaboration with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, with a DfE representative stating the choice “was not made lightly”. A four-week consultation period will now commence to allow stakeholder input.
What Happens to Pupils and Staff Next?
Transition plans are in place for students. The parents’ letter assured that Year 6 pupils have secured places in other local authority secondary schools, with formal offers on 1 March 2026.
For staff, full support is promised, including communication on the closure’s implications and gratitude for their efforts. No specific details on redundancies or redeployment were outlined in the available reports.
How Does This Fit Broader Trends?
The closure reflects wider challenges in UK education, including declining birth rates impacting enrolment, as noted in the letter. National and local trends have compounded the school’s financial and performance woes, making sustainability impossible despite leadership efforts.
The Liverpool Echo’s reporting underscores how governance and financial mismanagement, combined with poor Ofsted outcomes, have led to this outcome.
What Is the school’s Background?
LIPA Primary and High School, on Upper Duke Street, focuses on performing arts education for ages 4-16 but operates under the separate LIPA Multi Academy Trust, not directly affiliated with the renowned Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Its vision, as referenced in the letter, has been a point of pride amid the struggles.
