Education provider Study Group has announced it may close its UK school, Bellerbys College, as a result of fewer students.
Due to declines both in enrolment and in students living at the college, Study Group said it was “exploring potential options on the future” of the institutions – including closing at the end of August.
“For many decades, Bellerbys has welcomed students seeking an international education in the UK,” the update said.
“Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in the number of students enrolling and living at the college in recent years, a trend that has been amplified by the pandemic,” it explained.
Current students will continue with their classes if they are already enrolled, regardless of when their course is due to complete.
Confirmed students who are due to finish their course before the end of August will also complete their courses, but those who are confirmed on courses finishing after that period have had their course cancelled.
Offer holders will either have their places temporarily frozen or offers withdrawn depending on their courses starting times.
A “collective consultation process” will run until April 2022 with all staff, news which was shared with employees on January 25.
Guidance and support has been offered to all current students, with student support officers “available on campus and online to share information on the process”.
Parents and students will also be offered sessions to “run through possible scenarios and options” with the officers.
“We need to await the outcome of the consultation”
“While we need to await the outcome of the consultation, we appreciate the uncertainty this creates for you and your students,” the update explains.
“Putting our students, as always, at the centre of our approach, we do not think starting on a course that we may not be able to conclude is in their best interest,” it added, explaining the decision to freeze all course with post-August starts.
Study Group did note that as the world looks forward from the pandemic and international education keeps moving, the focus may change.
“Our focus is increasingly on working directly with our university partners to deliver new international education solutions on behalf and enhance our existing ones,” Study Group said.
“We are focused on developing innovative, flexible, digitally enabled solutions that meet the rapidly changing needs and expectations of a new generation of students,” it added.
