Westbrook House was a boys Preparatory School based in Folkestone for 2-11 year olds. It was established on the site in Folkestone in 1947 by Kenneth Foster. In the 1970's it became Dover College Junior School.
St. Mary's Convent combined with the neighbouring Dover College Junior School at Westbrook House in 1998 and became jointly known as St. Mary's Westbrook and this existed until 2008 when it closed its doors with just 68 pupils on role whilst its capacity was 310.
Parents are in turmoil after receiving letters telling them their children's school has been closed.
The letters, which arrived by private courier between 8pm and midnight, said Westbrook House Preparatory School, in Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone has shut .The shock announcement came completely out of the blue, but it has since been revealed that management team were aware it was going under due to lack of funds.
Peter Bettley, spokesman for Folkestone businessman Roger De Haan, who was chairman of governors, said the school – which had just 68 pupils - was running at a loss and was facing losses of half a million pounds next year. He said Mr De Haan had subsidised the school, to the tune of £4 million since 2002, but didn’t feel he could continue to do so.
Mr Bettley said: "The number of pupils was not viable, but if there had been any indication of the possibility of closure parents might have made alternative provision and this would have made the school even less viable. It was a lovely building but not much left inside . At the time of visiting there was no access into the chapel unfortunatly . I think the site has now been redeveloped into housing .
St. Mary's Convent combined with the neighbouring Dover College Junior School at Westbrook House in 1998 and became jointly known as St. Mary's Westbrook and this existed until 2008 when it closed its doors with just 68 pupils on role whilst its capacity was 310.
Parents are in turmoil after receiving letters telling them their children's school has been closed.
The letters, which arrived by private courier between 8pm and midnight, said Westbrook House Preparatory School, in Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone has shut .The shock announcement came completely out of the blue, but it has since been revealed that management team were aware it was going under due to lack of funds.
Peter Bettley, spokesman for Folkestone businessman Roger De Haan, who was chairman of governors, said the school – which had just 68 pupils - was running at a loss and was facing losses of half a million pounds next year. He said Mr De Haan had subsidised the school, to the tune of £4 million since 2002, but didn’t feel he could continue to do so.
Mr Bettley said: "The number of pupils was not viable, but if there had been any indication of the possibility of closure parents might have made alternative provision and this would have made the school even less viable. It was a lovely building but not much left inside . At the time of visiting there was no access into the chapel unfortunatly . I think the site has now been redeveloped into housing .
