A Cumbrian school has only 33 hours left to raise £19,295 or face closing its doors.
Hunter Hall School, in Penrith, launched an urgent appeal last week after it revealed that it needed to raise £180,000 by this Wednesday, December 3, or be forced to close its doors before Christmas.
By Saturday, the school had raised over £100,000 and after a huge fundraising push, it is now trying to raise a final £19,295 to allow it to stay open.
Nearly 80 pupils aged three to 11, 20 staff and more than 50 families are facing losing both their school and community.
Head, Paul Borrows, said: “The response in recent days has been overwhelming. Families from across Cumbria, former pupils and even complete strangers from around the UK have rallied behind us, recognising what a unique place Hunter Hall is.
“We’ve been especially moved by parents whose children have experienced sudden school closures elsewhere, they know exactly what is at stake.
“What’s needed now is a final push. This is a real, immovable deadline. If we reach this target, we can protect Hunter Hall not just for the children here today but for future generations too.”
The school said it was struggling under the Government’s addition of VAT to school fees and that governors had been looking for ways to secure the school’s future.
Despite significant cost-saving measures implemented over the past year, including negotiated rent reductions and staff voluntarily accepting a 7.5% salary reduction, several anticipated savings had not materialised, the school said.
As a result, the school was facing a larger than expected deficit for the 2025-2026 financial year, it added.
Head, Paul Borrows, said: “We were preparing for changes within the sector, but the speed and scale of the financial impact has been challenging for many schools like ours. The hardest part is knowing what this means for our children.
“At Hunter Hall, we nurture and celebrate every child as an individual, ensuring they have the confidence and strength of character to thrive whatever lies ahead. Losing the school would be heartbreaking for our families and for the region.”
Hunter Hall must raise £19,295 to reach its £180,000 target by Wednesday December 3 at 7pm to stay open.
Donations can be made via the school’s official Crowdfunder page.
