The preparatory school where British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was educated has announced its closure as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Ashdown House, founded in 1843, is to close its doors after failing to attract enough pupils to the boarding school that cost £28,000 (Dh128,500) a year.
It is understood that a rise in school fees last September affected pupil numbers, compounded by many parents suffering financial losses during the lockdown restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The outbreak of the Coronavirus has had a very significant impact," the Cothill Trust, which owns the school, wrote in a letter to parents.
"From September, the school is now projected to be less than a third full following a decline in the number of international boarders and fewer new and current parents being able to take up their places for the next academic year.
“It is with great sadness, therefore, that we write to let you know that Ashdown will be closing at the end of this academic year."
Mr Johnson, 55, was educated at Ashdown House from 1975 along with his brother Jo Johnson, a former government minister, and sister Rachel Johnson, the journalist.
He developed his deep love of Ancient Greek and Latin along with rugby at the coeducational school, but was said to have been shocked at its use of corporal punishment.
The siblings’ names are believed to still be on the honours board in the school’s small library.
The headmistress, Hilary Phillips, disclosing her sadness at the closure. “I cannot properly express my sorrow at the announcement,” wrote Ms Phillips, who has been head only since September. “There are no words.
“I want to help each family and will make sure I communicate with each of you and work to making the best of this horrible situation."
She said it would be left to parents to break news of the school’s closure to the pupils.
“I expect there will be much speculation swirling around in the press and much will be untrue," Ms Phillips said.
"I will be in contact again once we have all had the opportunity to absorb the shock.”
The school is set on 16 hectares of grounds on the edge of the Ashdown Forest in Sussex.
Its brochure describes it as “a magical place where children strive, learn, laugh and thrive”.
Ashdown House was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, who also designed the famous columned portico of the White House and the Capitol Building in Washington, in the late 18th century.
The school was beset by allegations of physical and sexual abuse during the 1970s, which came to light seven years ago.
Other former pupils include Homeland actor Damian Lewis and journalist Alex Renton.
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
The biog
Name: Marie Byrne
Nationality: Irish
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston
Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
