By John Baron
Fulneck School in Pudsey closed its doors for the last time today.
The independent day and boarding school is based at the historic Moravian settlement of Fulneck and dates back to 1753.
In an emotional announcement on social media, the school said pupils past and =opresent would carry its legacy forward.
It said: “After centuries of shaping young minds and nurturing generations, Fulneck School closes its doors for the very last time.
“This isn’t just the end of a school — it’s the end of a community, a history and a home for so many. Pupils past and present, staff, families and friends: your memories, laughter, challenges and triumphs are woven into every brick of Fulneck School.
“We leave with heavy hearts but with deep pride in all that Fulneck has stood for over the years — compassion, courage and a commitment to education that has spanned lifetimes.
“To everyone who has ever been part of Fulneck – THANK YOU. You carry its legacy forward.”
The closure has been met with sadness.
One former pupil said: “My parents were working people, they went without in order to send me here.
“Dad’s a fitter at the time and mum worked in an office. My days here were some of the best in my life. Strict, not always fair (those were the times we lived in). I’m sad to see it go, it seemed to me to be part of history. It was full of tradition, which we seem to be losing completely.”
“Falling roll for a while, well before tax changes,” added another. “A shame to see such an important part of Pudsey’s history go.”
News of the closure broke in March. Fulneck School bosses blame falling pupil numbers and rising costs for the closure of the historic Pudsey institution.
in a statement at the time, the school said: ““Despite the dedicated efforts of the school and the Fulneck Trustees to sustain pupil numbers, a continued decline in enrolment, combined with rising operational costs, has made it increasingly challenging to maintain financial viability.”
Latest accounts filed last June for the year ending August 2023 saw the school announce a turnover of £5 million, but was posting six-figure annual losses. The school also had a £1.9 million loan to the Moravian Union. The school had over 90 full and part time employees at the time.
Fulneck School was established in 1753 in order to provide an education for the sons and daughters of the church’s ministers and missionaries. Famous former pupils include actress Dame Diana Rigg and HH Asquith, who was Prime Minister between 1908–16.
Disgusted by this and by the Labour Party acceptance of the increase in vat here – these schools nurture the children in our society and I can vouch for that.
Numbers have been in decline for some time, that is the reason for the closure. There has been a 25% decrease in pupils from 2018 to 2024 – was that the Labour Parties fault?