Stoke College in Suffolk to close permanently after financial pressures

Stoke College, a historic independent school in Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk, traces its origins to a religious college founded in 1415 and has operated as a school since 1954. On 22 July 2026 liquidators were appointed and the school announced it will not reopen for the 2026‑27 academic year, ending with 119 pupils enrolled.

The closure is attributed to a combination of financial challenges, including the introduction of VAT on school fees, the removal of business‑rates relief, rising employment costs and higher operational expenditure, which led to an after‑tax loss of £1.6 million in 2024. The principal, Kim Terrar, said the priority is to support students, families and staff and to secure places for pupils at nearby independent schools. The school was bought by new owners in 2019 and will now be wound up under liquidator Joe Whiley of Insolvency Direct Ltd.