Private school co-founded by Tilda Swinton to close

A private school in Moray co-founded by Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton is to close amid financial pressures, it has been announced.

Drumduan School has been based near Forres for 40 years.

It focused on more alternative, practical learning, rather than pupils sitting tests.

However, the trustees said its kindergarten would finish at the end of the academic year on 30 June after a review of "financial sustainability", following the earlier closure of its upper and lower school provision.

The UK government introduced VAT on private school fees in January 2025.

Average private school fees were 22% higher that month than in January 2024, according to the Independent Schools Council.

Drumduan said the VAT change had been difficult to cope with.

A Steiner Waldorf school, it offered a "holisitic education" which combined artistic and physical activities with academic learning including science and maths.

BBC Scotland News visited the school in 2017, when tai chi-style exercise was the first class of the day, while the teaching of science could involve canoe building or cooking.

Swinton watched her own twin children perform at their last class concert.

She co-founded an earlier version of Drumduan's upper school.

The actress won an Oscar for her role in Michael Clayton, and has also appeared in films including Grand Budapest Hotel and Marvel movies such as Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame.

The lower school closed in February, followed by the upper school in March.

In a statement on the school website, trustees said they had made the "very sad" decision to close the kindergarten provision.

"This decision follows a careful review of financial sustainability and reflects the trustees' responsibilities to govern Drumduan," it said.

"Despite sustained efforts to secure alternative funding, we have not been able to establish the financial foundations necessary to continue. It was not a decision taken lightly.

"Staff and families are being supported throughout the transition process, with access to individual conversations and guidance on next steps."

The statement added: "We wish to place on record our immense gratitude to the kindergarten staff, whose dedication, creativity and care for our children has been wonderful in these challenging times.

"The trustees would like to express their sincere gratitude to the many families, staff, friends and supporters - past and present - who have contributed to the life of Drumduan over its 40 years.

"It is comforting to know the children who have been part of our community carry with them their learning, the wonder and creativity nurtured in their early years, and the human connections formed during their time at Drumduan."

In a later statement, Drumduan said that amid the "cost-of-living crisis" the new VAT charge was "harder for families to absorb", while also driving up the school's own running costs.

Trustees approved a 20% fee increase from August last year, and pupil numbers then fell.

Drumduan is the not alone among private schools feeling the pinch.

In June last year, one of Scotland's top private schools said jobs could be lost as it looked to cut costs.

Fettes College in Edinburgh - which counts former Prime Minister Tony Blair among its alumni - said the introduction of VAT on school fees was one of the reasons it was faced with the "difficult" decision.

And in February this year, it was announced that more than a dozen jobs were at risk at Albyn School in Aberdeen.

The school - which has about 600 pupils - said the independent school sector was facing a "rapidly changing educational and financial environment".