Bishop Bavin School is closing down immediately

The news division received confirmation that Bishop Bavin School is closing down.

“It is with a heavy and sad heart that I can confirm that Bishop Bavin School is closing its gates,” said Angelique Andrews, head of admissions and marketing officer.

In a statement made by the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, the Right Revd Dr Steve Moreo, it is announced the school is closing down immediately.

“The school has been forced to close its doors with immediate effect as a result of a financial crisis,” said Right Revd Dr Moreo.

The Bishop of Johannesburg said the decision to terminate the school’s operations had not been taken lightly either by himself, the Trustees of the Diocese or the Board of the school.

“In the final analysis the Diocese had no other option as the school faced ever mounting debt without matching income.

The advent of the coronavirus and the lockdown in South Africa further complicated negotiations with interested parties to rescue the school.

The current combined deficit of the school is R31.5-million.

The Diocese itself is owed some R15-million by the school.

Right Revd Dr Moreo stated that unless the school receives a capital injection of about R25-million “from an angel investor who will require no return”, there appears to be no way forward to save the school.

“Bishop Bavin School will therefore not be in a position to open its doors for the rest of the year.”

Plans are already in progress to accommodate learners for the rest of the academic year, including matric pupils who are preparing for their final examinations.

“Contact has been made with other diocesan schools asking them to favourably consider taking on Bishop Bavin learners in the middle of the year.

“The Board is working on a programme that will match a learner to possible schools for their placement, taking into account costs and fit. Each learner and parent will be invited to a scheduled meeting to discuss the options.”

Meetings with staff are taking place to discuss the future, and a meeting with creditors to discuss options and the way forward is planned.

“We are saddened by this failure to be able to continue to provide the quality schooling at Bishop Bavin for which our Diocesan schools in Johannesburg are famous,” Right Revd Dr Moreo said.

Established in 1991, the school was named after a former Bishop of Johannesburg, the Right Revd Timothy Bavin. It occupied premises previously run as the St George’s Home for Boys, which was established in 1915.