“Shared commitment to an ambitious, sustainable future for younger pupils.”
Myddelton College- Denbigh. Pictured Katie Gresley Jones, Headteachers Lucy Davies and Elizabeth Perkins and Carly Gilmore. Picture Mandy Jones
Two leading independent schools in North Wales have announced they are merging to create a “sustainable future for younger pupils”.
Myddelton College’s fast-growing independent school in Denbigh will soon be welcoming more pupils when historic Fairholme Preparatory School in St Asaph joins with Myddelton in September.
Opening in September, the Prep School will be renamed Myddelton-Fairholme Preparatory School, and based on the Myddelton College campus on Peake’s Lane in Denbigh, just six miles from St Asaph.
Myddelton College Headteacher Mrs Lucy Davies described the move as “reflecting both continuity of ethos and a shared commitment to an ambitious, sustainable future for younger pupils”.
She said ensuring a “smooth and reassuring” transition for pupils, staff and parents has been a key priority to preserve trusted relationships and continuity in the classroom.
Fairholme School, which was founded in 1900 in Denbigh, is currently under the leadership of Headteacher, Mrs Elizabeth Perkins, who took it over with her late husband, Stephen, in 2009.
The two schools are working jointly to run a programme of “Together Days” and buddy support throughout the summer term to help children and their parents feel confident, familiar and excited about the changes ahead in September.
Mrs added: “This is an exciting new chapter for values-driven Prep education in North Wales, reflecting both continuity of ethos and a shared commitment to an ambitious, sustainable future for younger pupils.
“Fairholme has long been seen as North Wales’s foremost independent preparatory school and is known for its warmth, strong academic performance and deeply supportive community.
“Myddelton College, one of the region’s fastest-growing and foremost independent schools, is proud to build on these foundations.
“At a time when the independent sector faces significant pressures, this announcement represents a confident step forward which brings together two schools with a shared belief in providing children with the very best start in life, via strong pastoral care and academic excellence.
“We believe that by combining our shared expertise, experience and resources, Myddelton-Fairholme Preparatory School will offer an enriched educational experience while retaining the close-knit, nurturing environment that families value so highly.
“For Fairholme this marks a respectful and positive continuation of its legacy while for Myddelton it represents measured growth and long-term commitment to the sector.
“We are committed to ensuring that Myddelton-Fairholme Preparatory School offers something genuinely distinctive for children and families.”
Parents of both schools were informed this week and Mrs Elizabeth Perkins of Fairholme Preparatory School said: “This decision has been a deeply personal one for me.
“My late husband and I devoted many years to Fairholme and after his passing I remained committed to preserving everything that has made the school so special.
“As I prepare for retirement, my priority has been to secure the very best future for our children, staff and families.
“I am incredibly proud of all that Fairholme has stood for, and I am reassured and delighted that its next chapter will be with Myddelton College.”
