A five-year period of ‘‘sustained downturn’’ was behind the provisional decision to close the hostel, according to school authorities.
Hostel numbers had dropped to 15 students this year. About 22 boarders were required to ‘‘break even’’, the school’s limited statutory manager, Ben Nettleton, said.
The school has been under statutory management since September last year.
Mr Nettleton said families, staff and the wider community were being consulted. He stressed this was ‘‘not a final decision’’.
The hostel would continue to operate through 2026, he said.
In a letter sent to parents, Mr Nettleton and board member Nick Webster wrote that they were working with the community ‘‘to explore whether alternative boarding arrangements, including partnerships with other providers, could maintain some form of boarding option into the future’’.
A strategic workshop was held to consider sustainability, financial viability, future capital requirements and health and safety obligations at the hostel, leading to the provisional decision to close it.
‘‘Hostel numbers have steadily declined over a period of more than five years and have not returned to levels that support long-term financial sustainability,’’ Mr Nettleton said.
