The independent Catholic school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 has been a teaching institution for 73 years.

Parents have been abruptly informed that Fernhill School is to close at the end of the academic year. The announcement was made following news that the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has launched a formal investigation into the school’s financial reporting and governance. The watchdog revealed that trustees of the school have breached their duties by not filing accounts for three years.

A statement posted to the school’s Facebook page says: “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.”

Hamilton College said this evening: “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 impacted 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.”

Founded in 1953 by the Sisters of Notre Dame, Fernhill School states on its website that they “use 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 £13,000 per year for primary one to more than £20,000 for senior school pupils. Around 250 pupils will be affected by the closure of the independent Catholic school.

The charity that runs the school has not submitted annual financial accounts to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Unaudited dormant company accounts for the years ended 31/07/2023 and 31/07/2024 have been lodged at Companies House without explanation. Fernhill School has held charitable status since 1975.

The 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.”

Fernhill School has been approached for comment.