Southway behavioural school in south Leeds announces closure after suffering 'sustained losses'

A behavioural school in Leeds has announced its closure.

Southway Independent School, located on Middleton Road, Belle Isle, has announced it will close its doors for good at the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year on Friday, July 17.

Operating as a subsidiary of the Resilience Multi Academy Trust (RMAT), the specialist school is for pupils with behavioural, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties who are at risk of being permanently excluded from their mainstream school.

In a statement provided to the YEP, the trust confirmed that the decision was made following a meeting of the school’s directors on May 22.

“After full consideration, the Directors took the decision to proceed with the closure of Southway at the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year,” a trust spokesperson said. “As a result, all roles at Southway will be disestablished and colleagues will be at risk of redundancy.

“The key factor in reaching this decision is the financial position of Southway. The provision is operating significantly below its planned capacity, with sustained losses driven by a model that relies on variable, attendance-based income.

“Current student numbers and confirmed commissioning do not provide a viable or sustainable funding position beyond August 2026. Despite ongoing engagement with commissioners, Southway school limited has not secured the level of guaranteed income required to operate safely and responsibly.”

During the consultation period, the YEP understands that a number of alternative options were proposed, including restructuring the provision, reducing the number of places, or pursuing partnership or transfer arrangements.

These were actively explored. However, none of these options were deemed to demonstrate a “sustainable financial model supported by confirmed income.” For this reason, the Directors concluded that closure is the only viable course of action.

Where possible, to avoid redundancies, the Resilience Multi Academy Trust, which is the sole shareholder in Southway School Limited, will seek to redeploy staff elsewhere in the trust’s portfolio of schools.

The trust spokesperson added: “The Directors have recognised concerns about the impact on young people who attend Southway particularly those with SEMH needs. They will remain our highest priority through to closure.

“We have put in a structured transition plan which will include close working with commissioning partners and receiving schools, safeguarding oversight for all vulnerable students, ensuring exams continue for Year 11 students and ongoing communication with families.

“Continuing uncertainty has had an impact on colleagues' workload and wellbeing. Making this decision now provides clarity and allows Southway to focus on a managed and safe transition to the end of the academic year.”

The Directors of Southway are clear that the decision does not reflect the quality of the work at Southway. The impact achieved for students, often in challenging circumstances has been widely recognised. The decision to close has been driven by financial sustainability, not performance.

They have pledged to continue to support colleagues and students through the coming weeks.

Southway provides places for children in KS3 and KS4, offering a high-quality education package to meet the range of behavioural needs of its pupils.