Braeside has been operating in leased premises since Miss Marjorie Wakefield, who founded the school in 1944, placed the site in a Trust in 1972 in order to protect and safeguard the school. Since she died in 1985, the Trust has been administered by a local legal practice.
When the Oak-Tree Group of schools acquired Braeside in September 2015 we were unable to purchase the freehold so we took over the long-standing lease.
The beneficiaries of the Trust decided to sell the premises earlier this year at a price that
was significantly out of reach for us. A purchaser has been found and, during the
summer break, contracts were exchanged.
The purchaser of the school site has designated the site for development and the ongoing occupation of Braeside School in the medium to long term is not part of their future plans for the site.
Places for all current Braeside pupils have been made available at the other schools in the Oak-Tree Group. Oaklands, Normanhurst and Coopersale Hall all have similar values and
ethoses as Braeside. All offer relatively small class sizes, high staff to pupil ratios, high
levels of resourcing and excellent pastoral care. They also operate similar curricula and
timetables.
It should also highlight that The Oak-Tree Group own the premises at each of the other schools and so there cannot be a repeat of this situation.
Braeside school has now closed as of July 2025, the end of the school academic year.
