Downside School reveals plan to buy school and monastery site

Downside School, the independent day and boarding school in Somerset, is raising funds to purchase its site along with the monastery from Downside Abbey.

“Securing these freeholds will help us unlock the enormous potential of the school and wider site, strengthening our long-term financial resilience,” the school said in a statement. The proposed purchase price has not been disclosed but there is a fundraising target of £5 million.

The Community of St Gregory the Great and the Downside Abbey General Trust will continue to own and care for the Grade I-listed Basilica Church, the heritage assets and library.

In addition, after seven years as head, and ten years previously as deputy, Andrew Hobbs has retired and Mike Randall, deputy head for the last seven years, has become interim head.

Downside, ranked in the top 5 per cent of schools nationally for value added, is exploring opportunities to expand its educational offering and diversify income. This includes a programme of courses for international pupils and a partnership with a Catholic school seeking to establish a special educational needs unit and a nursery.

The aim is to use the former monastery as a new boarding house as pupil numbers grow, or as as a retreat centre, heritage hotel or other appropriate accommodation.  

The monks no longer have any role in the running of the school and moved to Buckfast Abbey after the sex abuse scandal and the investigation into the English Benedictine Congregation and its schools by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. Earlier this year the monks moved again, to Belmont Abbey. In 2020 Downside became an independent educational trust separate from the Downside Abbey General Trust. 

John Ludlow, chair of governors, said: “We are extremely fortunate at Downside to be part of a vibrant and supportive community, helping us move forward with confidence into this next stage of our history. The current school site was purchased in April 1814, and the cedar tree planted at the entrance still stands strong today. Despite the financial pressures currently facing all independent schools, we look to the future with confidence, courage and determination, committed to remaining a bright light in education and inspiring service in our ever-changing world.” 

In a letter to Old Gregorians, as former pupils are known, and friends, chair of governors John Ludlow notes that with the introduction of VAT on fees, pupil numbers at Downside decreased, as they have throughout the independent sector. At the same time, the school was hit with the loss of mandatory business rates relief and a substantial rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Nevertheless, he reports, the school is on track to meet its budget this year and, with the help of support from OGs, even to make a small surplus in the coming year. A field on the site has also been earmarked for a combination of private housing, independent and assisted living to meet local and wider demand.

He writes, “I am now asking everyone who can to support us in our mission to raise the necessary funds to purchase the School and Monastery freeholds. We are making good progress and our ‘stretch target’ is £5 million, which would also enable us to complete some much-needed improvements to the site earlier than we otherwise could.”

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