The college had money owed of £1,555,596 owed to 121 collectors, in line with stories.
A historic unbiased faculty that first opened greater than 160 years in the past has gone into liquidation (Picture: Google Maps)
A historic unbiased faculty that first opened greater than 160 years in the past has gone into liquidation after closing its doorways for good. Our Girl’s Abingdon (OLA) in Oxfordshire shut in August 2025 after 165 years, with governors blaming ongoing monetary pressures. The college, based mostly on Radley Street, mentioned on the time it had been “underneath monetary strain for a while” and had been left with “no viable method ahead”.
It additionally pointed to rising prices and adjustments affecting personal schooling, together with the introduction of VAT on faculty charges. In an announcement, the varsity mentioned an increase in charges had develop into “unaffordable” for some households, which led to a drop in pupil numbers. On the time of its closure, OLA had 368 pupils regardless of having area for as much as 540.
Our Girl’s Abingdon in Oxfordshire shut in August 2025 after 165 years (Picture: Google Maps)
Accounts filed in August 2023 had already warned of difficulties, with the varsity saying it confronted “challenges” and anticipated price range deficits within the years forward.
Following the sudden closure, households have been left scrambling to search out new faculty locations for tons of of pupils throughout Oxfordshire.
The college’s board of governors mentioned they might be “supporting households in securing different faculty locations in Oxfordshire”.
A Assertion of Affairs submitted to Corporations Home revealed that Our Girl’s Abingdon Trustees Ltd had money owed of £1,555,596 owed to 121 collectors. In consequence, the varsity has now formally gone into liquidation.
Reviews counsel that the location and buildings may very well be offered, with the land probably price thousands and thousands.
On the time of its closure, OLA had 368 pupils regardless of having area for as much as 540 (Picture: Google Maps)
The property is owned by the Institute of Our Girl of Mercy, a Catholic order based mostly in Leeds.
A spokesperson mentioned: “Over the past six months, following the handover of the location from the liquidator, we have now been working diligently to each clear and safe the Our Girl’s Abingdon website, in addition to mirror on how finest the location can be utilized shifting ahead.
“Conferences are ongoing concerning the website’s future, taking into consideration our obligations as a charity, and we’re hopeful to be ready to share extra info within the early a part of the summer season.”
The organisation had beforehand mentioned it hoped to discover a “charitable” use for the land.
A spokesperson added on the time: “Our hope is that, when the time is true, we will discover a use for this website that allows us to fulfill our charitable obligations for our beneficiaries.”
Native MP Layla Moran mentioned the closure had a serious influence on households. She informed Oxford Mail: “College students, households and academics have been shocked by the sudden closure of Our Girl’s Abingdon over the summer season holidays.
“I noticed the misery it prompted to pupils and fogeys, significantly these finishing their GCSEs and A-Ranges.
“I used to be happy to see Oxfordshire County Council reply so shortly given the troublesome circumstances and discover faculty locations for college kids.”
Reacting to information that the location might now be offered, she added: “The closure of Our Girl’s Abingdon was an actual blow for the neighborhood.
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“I might be delighted if the location have been to proceed as an academic establishment to enhance and broaden entry to schooling within the space.”
Based in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy, the varsity had operated as a small unbiased day faculty for pupils aged seven to 18.
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