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One of Wales’ biggest rugby schools, Llandovery College, is fighting to survive after the chair of governors admitted just weeks ago it was on the verge of closure.
It has had a stay of execution for now but faces severe financial difficulties, with the long-term future of the college uncertain. Staff have been forced to accept pay cuts, while scholarships will only be offered to pupils with exceptional talent.
Llandovery College is one of the most prestigious rugby schools in the UK and has partnered up with all four professional clubs in attempt to keep young talent in Wales.
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It has also been used as a successful tool to attract Welsh-qualified players to Wales.
The college is 178 years old, with George North and Alun Wyn Jones amongst its alumni. Former pupils who attended the school have earned 550 caps for Wales between them.
WalesOnline has seen a letter sent by Simon Woodhead, the chair of governors at Llandovery College, to the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, on June 4.
In the letter Mr Woodhead requested £1m in emergency funding to prevent the school’s closure before the new academic year.
He wrote: “I write to you in confidence to advise you that Llandovery College – a non-selective independent day and boarding school, founded in 1847, and one of very few such schools in Wales – is on the verge of closure. We are committed to seeing our pupils through their current examinations, but unless a rescue package can be secured, we will announce at the end of June that the College will not reopen in September.”
He argues that recent government policies—including VAT on independent school fees, higher employer National Insurance contributions, increased National Living Wage costs, and the removal of business rates relief in Wales—have made the school financially unsustainable.
According to the letter, these measures caused pupil numbers to fall, eliminated the school’s operating surplus, and created a cash-flow crisis despite the school having been profitable as recently as 2023.
In a later letter sent to the parents and guardians of students on June 25, Mr Woodhead revealed the college would in fact survive for now after securing some outside funding. He said a required increase in fees had caused a collapse in its roll from 265 pre-policy to 211 today, while just 175 students are so far committed to attending Llandovery College for the new academic year in September.
He wrote: “With the news flow around the independent sector – over 100 schools now closed since the general election, you possibly expected to receive the ‘other’ version of this letter. Thankfully, owing to amazing efforts all round, and the dividends on 18 months of hard work, we will be open in September and look forward to welcoming your children again.
“New Government policies are causing significant harm to independent schools by driving up costs of operation and driving up your costs through VAT. This forced us to increase fees, which further increased your costs and caused a collapse in our roll (from 265 pre-policy to 211 today, and 175 so far committed for September).
“We have been seeking to address the £1m deficit this has left us with by reducing our operational costs as far as possible without affecting the quality of provision, and by seeking external funding. We have secured strong support locally with a small group of close parties pledging £480k. With underwritten costs for various professionals, the overall commitment across our small group is closer to £600k. The Old Llandoverian Society has also pledged its £20k of funds.
“Whilst these funds secure the short term future of the school, alone they are insufficient to secure the future long-term, given a deficit which has accumulated as we have adjusted to the new reality of increased costs and reduced roll.”
Mr Woodhead also states in this letter that staff have accepted a temporary reduction in pay and have exited the Teachers Pension Scheme. A financial restructuring of the school is now under way this summer.
He also confirmed changes to the fees to study at Llandovery College will be introduced, while they will cut back on bursaries and scholarships.
“In essence, scholarships will be for exceptional talent, and bursaries will be for exceptional hardship, the latter prioritising those already in the college community,” wrote Mr Woodhead.
“They’ll be subject to a board-approved annual limit and per child cap, and will also be subject to review and variation, rather than persisting for life.”
Llandovery College has been contacted for comment.
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