Braeside School in Loughton, Essex, part of The Oak-Tree Group of Schools, is closing next summer.

Braeside is an all-through independent day school for girls and boys aged from two-and-a half to 16.

The site has been earmarked for development, with pupils and staff being transferred to other Oak-Tree Group schools.

The news was revealed in a letter from The Oak-Tree Group of Schools’ group managing principal, Matthew Hagger, was sent to all parents this week.

The letter states: “Braeside has been operating in leased premises since the founder placed the site in a trust in 1972.

“Since she died in 1985, the trust has been administered by a local legal practice.

“When we acquired the Braeside business in September 2015 we were unable to purchase the freehold so we took over the long-standing lease.

“The beneficiaries of the trust decided to sell the premises earlier this year at a price that was significantly out of reach for us.

“I have been liaising with the new owner of the site in an attempt to align our continuing interests with theirs. However, the purchaser has designated the site for development and the ongoing occupation of Braeside School in the long term is not part of their future plans.

“This means that Braeside School will cease to operate from July 2025, and will close at the end of this academic year. The rest of this academic year will run as usual until July 2025.

“We are making available places for all Braeside pupils to transfer to the other schools in the Oak-Tree Group and we will be working closely with families to facilitate the moves.

“We will also be looking to offer all current Braeside staff redeployment to the other Oak-Tree Schools from September 2025.

“We own the premises at each of the other schools and so there cannot be a repeat of this situation.

“Part of the plan will be to facilitate a move to either Normanhurst, Oaklands, or Coopersale Hall for those pupils who choose to transfer.

“At Coopersale Hall, phase 2 of the senior building programme should complete by the summer term 2025 and we will be opening our suite of new senior classrooms from September 2025.

“This is a sad time for Braeside. However, we still have the best part of the academic year left together and we are committed to making what will be the 81st and final year of the school the best that it can possibly be for the whole school community.”