The independent Catholic school , which educates boys and girls aged three to 18, has been operating for 73 years.
Parents were informed of the closure following confirmation that the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has launched a formal investigation into the school’s financial reporting and governance.
The regulator has revealed that trustees breached their duties by failing to submit accounts for three consecutive years.
A statement posted on the school’s Facebook page said: “Whilst change is happening on the outside, care and compassion remain within.
“Please be assured that the quality of education and the care and consistency your children will continue to experience every day until the end of the academic year will remain unchanged.
“We will move through the coming months with confidence, continuing to operate in the way that makes our school unique and exceptional.
“Our classrooms remain calm and purposeful, our expectations remain high, and our belief in our pupils remains strong. Above all, we remain deeply committed to our children.
“The same staff who know them, teach them and care for them will continue to provide the routines, relationships and learning experiences that have always defined this school until the end of this session.
“We ask our parents to remain true to what brought you to Fernhill School and stay with us until the end of this session. We remain focused, caring and child-centred and this is how we will finish this journey.”
Messages of support were issued by neighbouring schools. Hamilton College said: “The entire Hamilton College community is saddened to learn that Fernhill is closing.
“As close neighbours in South Lanarkshire , many of us in the Hamilton College community share connections with the families and staff affected by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone at this difficult and unsettling time.”
Kelvinside Academy said: “We are saddened by the news of Fernhill School’s closure and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to its pupils, families and staff at this uncertain time.”
Fernhill School was founded in 1953 by the Sisters of Notre Dame and has held charitable status since 1975. On its website, the school states that it “uses the school’s extensive grounds to provide pupils with modern 21st century education, underpinned by belief in traditional values.
Our teachers help children develop their learning inside and outside of the classroom. Our private grounds and modern classrooms provide a range of teaching and learning opportunities for a diverse range of subjects.”
School fees start at around £13,000 per year for primary pupils and rise to more than £20,000 for senior school students. Around 250 pupils are expected to be affected by the closure.
The charity that runs the school has not submitted annual financial accounts to OSCR for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Unaudited dormant company accounts for the years ending July 2023 and July 2024 have been lodged with Companies House without explanation.
OSCR said: “The regulator is examining the governance of the charity, particularly focusing on the actions of the trustees, or governors, who are responsible for the charity’s management.
“The charity has not responded to previous correspondence from OSCR seeking an explanation of the financial position of the charity.
“It appears to OSCR that the charity trustees are in breach of their duties to act in the interests of the charity and, as a result, there has been misconduct in the administration of the charity.
“OSCR considers it expedient and in the interests of the charity to exercise its power to direct the charity to provide financial and other governance information.
“Our inquiries focus on how the charity is being managed by the charity trustees, in this case its Board of Governors.”
