One of UK’s oldest private schools put on market for £5 million after closure

A 742-year-old school that educated John Lennon’s son is up for sale for £5 million after it closed due to financial pressures.

The Ruthin School in Denbighshire, north Wales, was founded in 1284 and is made up of 12 buildings, a 30-bed boarding house, a sports field, and more than 24 acres of land.

It closed suddenly in July after it had been purchased by Galaxy Global Education in 2023, a Chinese company which also shut a private school in Worcestershire earlier this year.

Ruthin, a 201-pupil co-educational boarding school, was one of the oldest independent schools in the UK with annual fees ranging from around £15,800 to £54,800 for full boarding.

It includes the main school building, dining hall, science block, additional classroom accommodation, sports hall, storage facilities, boarding houses, sports pitches and adjoining agricultural land.

Surveyor Sanderson Weatherall, which has listed the school, said: “The campus is centred around an impressive Grade II listed main building dating from the 1850s, comprising a series of interconnected structures of traditional construction.

“The property features a combination of stone, brick and rendered elevations beneath pitched slate roofs, reflecting its historic character and architectural significance.”

One property on the estate originally served as a police station, and then a care home, before becoming the Gladstone boarding house.

While the origins of the school trace back to the 13th century, it was refounded in 1574 by Gabriel Goodman, the dean of Westminster.

There are several notable alumni of the school, including John Lennon’s son Julian, who attended Ruthin in the 1980s.

Students and staff were told about the closure on the final day of school before it broke for summer holidays.

At the time of closure, Ruthin’s deputy mayor, Anne Roberts, said: “It’s very sad news. I am still reeling. It’s huge for Ruthin. They are one of the biggest employers. For the local economy, it will have a real effect. It’s hard to believe.”

Sanderson Weatherall, which describes the purchase as a “rare opportunity”, was instructed to market the school on behalf of the joint administrators at FRP Advisory. The estate agent told the BBC the entire property has a guide price of £5 million.

It added: “Overlooking an area of outstanding natural beauty, the main campus features a Grade II listed period building on grounds of over 18 acres, housing expansive boarding accommodation, and substantial sports facilities.

“Included within the broader estate is an additional 24 acres of agricultural land, residential properties and a separate 30-bed boarding house in Ruthin town centre.”

David Murray, a partner with Sanderson and Weatherall's asset advisory and recovery team, said: “Steeped in Welsh history, this estate represents a rare opportunity to acquire a significant estate with potential to continue its educational legacy or pursue alternative development.”