News & Updates

Easter Update

FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2026

After being in the wonderful Chapel this morning and hearing a message of hope from both the students and Chaplain we want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an extraordinary and, at times, uncertain month for our school community as we reach the end of term.

Just a few weeks ago, we were faced with the news that our beloved school site would be closing. In response,
this community came together with absolute determination. Through our collective efforts, we made our voices heard and demonstrated the strength of feeling surrounding the future of the school. From letter writing, the protest, press, community engagement and so much more you all showed up and as a result, the governors reconsidered their position and withdrew from the proposed merger.

Since then, work has been ongoing behind the scenes to explore a new path forward and secure the future of the school on the College Road site. While this process has understandably involved periods of limited communication and uncertainty (inevitably leading to a lot of frustration) we are proud of how our community has responded: standing together, supporting one another, and continuing to put pupils and staff first. With the WhatsApp group reaching more than 600 people at its peak it stands to show just how many people care deeply about the future of St Lawrence College.

Over the past month, a significant amount and wide-ranging body of work has been undertaken by SaveSLC and more widely by the St Lawrence College community.

This includes:

• Bringing together a community of over 300 people to peacefully and effectively make our voices heard at the protest
• Securing media coverage to highlight the strength of feeling and opposition to closure
• Organising a town hall meeting at The Granville Theatre, where constructive proposals were shared on how the school could remain financially viable
• Establishing communication channels, including social media and online platforms, to ensure timely and transparent information-sharing amongst our community in the early stages
• Establishing a smaller, focused Advisory Board (AB) from the original 16-strong working group to engage directly with the Board of Governors (BoG) during this critical phase
• Drafting and agreeing a clear Terms of Reference for the Advisory Board to operate on a structured, three-month basis
• Developing and sharing a comprehensive working document with the BoG, outlining key areas where the Advisory Board can provide practical support
• Producing a tailored proposal for a full governance review, alongside an executive summary of key governance considerations supported by relevant reference materials
• Committing significant time to engagement, including approximately 16 hours of governors’ meetings and wider internal discussions
• Completing all requested formalities to support collaboration, including NDAs, biographies, CV submissions and a detailed skills matrix
• Preparing documentation to support the positioning and potential establishment of a St Lawrence College Asset Fund
• Developing materials outlining a range of commercial opportunities available to the school
• Engaging with regulatory and financial bodies — including the FCA, FSMA in Belgium, Crowdcube and legal advisers — to ensure any potential share offering is compliant and robust
• Holding extensive discussions with potential funders, lenders and pension funds regarding future funding requirements
• Attending a late-night meeting in London with a prospective funder to explore viable financial solutions
• Beginning the process of working with the OLs and Friends Charity Foundation, including attending the AGM, to position it as a vehicle for future support
• Maintaining continuous dialogue with stakeholders across the community – parents, students, alumni, teachers and supporters – at times managing over 250 messages per day

As we now break for Easter, itis important to recognise just how much has been achieved in such a short period of time. The collective effort and commitment shown across this community has been truly remarkable.

We also recognise that this period has not been without frustration and honestly, we stand with everybody on this. So many of us have been seeking clarity on next steps and outcomes, and we know how difficult it is when answers are not always immediately available – these are our children’s futures and we do not take this lightly.

At this point, we have done what we can as a community to support, challenge and contribute constructively. The responsibility for the next phase now sits with the Board of Governors, and we will follow developments closely as they conclude this process and determine the way forward. At present, no further meetings or communications are scheduled between the Advisory Board and the governors. As such, responsibility rests firmly with those formally tasked with leading the school, and clear ownership and accountability will be essential as decisions are taken from here.

We hope that, as a community, we can end the term on a positive note – reflecting on the progress made, the unity shown, and set an example in how open, constructive communication can make a meaningful difference.

Finally, and most importantly, thank you. Thank you for the time, the energy, the expertise, the care and the sheer determination that so many of you have given over the past few weeks. Thank you for the messages, the conversations, the ideas, the support and, above all, for the unwavering belief in the school and its future. It has been genuinely moving to see our community come together in this way – not just to respond to a challenge, but to stand up for something that matters deeply to us all. Whatever happens next, that sense of unity, pride and commitment is something to hold onto.

Wishing you all a restful and happy Easter.

Alistair, Shelley, Laura, Alan & Jacqui
Save SLC Advisory Board