Charlotte Leslie today released the following statement regarding St Ursula’s School in Westbury-on-Trym:

I was shocked and saddened to hear the news that the trustees of St Ursula’s have had to call in the administrators. Prospective sponsors, trustees, governors and the head have all been working incredibly hard to establish St Ursula’s as a flourishing academy for the future, and recently it appeared that the bid would be a success.

However, the Roman Catholic Order of nuns, The Sisters of Mercy, which still partially own the site have rejected an academy business plan put forward by Oasis, which has received approval by the bank concerned. This is effectively forcing the school into administration.

This decision is very regrettable, particularly considering the business plan that the prospective sponsor is proferring has been subjected to rigorous financial scrutiny by the bank concerned and has been approved.

I am currently working with the school to find a last minute solution and I would urge anyone concerned to write directly to The Sisters of Mercy, articulating the human cost of the Order’s decision and asking that the Order reconsider its decision.

The address to write to is:
Sister Sheila Burke
Sisters of Mercy
11 Harewood Avenue
London NW1 6LD

My thoughts are with prospective and current parents and pupils, and with staff at this difficult and traumatic time.