A parent group has lodged a formal complaint with the Charity Commission over alleged failings by the Uppingham School Group, which ran Maidwell Hall, a prep school in Northamptonshire, the BBC has reported.

The failings cited at the closed school include financial mismanagement, governance breaches, charity law violations and false solicitation of fees.

The parent group claimed the decision to close the school was made in the middle of last year, but parents were not told until January this year, despite the school enrolling new pupils during that period. The group also questioned why a parents’ rescue bid backed by the David Ross Educational Trust was rejected.

A spokesperson for the group said: “During the last seven months, it has become evident that there is a case to answer regarding the financial mismanagement, governance failures and breaches of charity law by Uppingham.

“We believe it is only right and proper that this is thoroughly investigated by the Commission.”

In a statement the Uppingham School Group said if the Charity Commission investigated it would be “robustly refuting the claims made in the complaint”, adding it was “assessing concerns raised” to “determine any next steps”.

It said a decision to close Maidwell was made on 30 November 2024 at a trustee meeting, which was then shared with the parents in January, following a consultation period.

The Uppingham School Group said it had increased pupil numbers and invested in the school, but that it “remained significantly loss-making”, and came under increased financial pressures following the introduction of VAT on school fees and increased employers’ National Insurance contributions.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: “We are assessing concerns raised with us about Uppingham School to determine any next steps. In line with our guidance, Uppingham School promptly reported the closure of Maidwell School to us.”

A separate police investigation into Earl Spencer’s allegations of abuse at the school in the 1970s is continuing.