Charitable Merger Announcement

Pangbourne College is entering a charitable merger with the Mill Hill Education Group, one of the largest charitable groups of independent schools in the country from the start of the new academic year in September 2026. This is an exciting and positive step for the College, placing Pangbourne at the heart of educational excellence in the South East.

The independent school sector is changing rapidly. As part of their ongoing strategic planning responsibilities as College custodians, the Governors, in collaboration with the Head, have led the process. The Governors undertook a long and detailed evaluation which was supported by insights from the 2025 research with parents, alumni, staff and students. This helped shape the Governors’ understanding of the College’s future needs, as did the social, economic and legislative landscape.

Following this, the Governors concluded that Mill Hill Education Group was the best fit for Pangbourne: sharing Pangbourne's values, ethos and, importantly,  charitable aims. This move enables us to retain our much loved identity as a smaller school, whilst benefiting from the stability and security that being part of a larger group brings. In short, the decision was made to ensure Pangbourne continues to thrive and to place it among the leading independent schools in the country for generations to come. The three Devitt family members who have each acted as Pangbourne College Governors, dating back to 1973, thoroughly endorse this move.

No. This is not a commercial sale or profit-driven transaction.  This is a values-led charitable merger, sometimes called a 'nil-cost transaction', meaning no money changes hands. Both Pangbourne College and Mill Hill Education Group are long-established educational charities. Pangbourne's assets are gifted to the combined charity to be held for Pangbourne's benefit in perpetuity. The charitable merger is designed to enhance education, opportunity and stability for the long term across the group.

The role of the Governing Body is to safeguard the College and guide it through necessary change in order that its best centuries are ahead of it. Together with the Head, it is their responsibility to set the future strategic direction of Pangbourne. This decision needed to be carefully researched, considered, agreed and finalised before it  could be shared. We are delighted to be in a position to share the news now.

Mill Hill Education Group is a charitable collection of independent schools whose aim is to give a great education to the pupils in its care. It has grown from four UK schools in 2020 to thirteen UK schools and one international school in Thailand, collectively educating about 4,200 pupils. Schools within the group retain their individuality while benefiting from shared expertise, investment and wider opportunity.

The Governing Body ran an extensive, detailed process, exploring a range of possibilities before concluding that Mill Hill Education Group was the ideal partner. This was a deliberate, careful and forward-looking decision.

The formal merger agreement has been signed. Pangbourne will officially be part of the Mill Hill Education Group from the start of the new academic year in September 2026.

No. Your child’s daily routine, classroom learning and the unique identity and values of the College will not change. The uniqueness of a Pangbourne education: its adventure programme, ceremonial traditions, Parade infrastructure, distinctive uniform and its commitment to developing unautomatable children, will be safeguarded for future generations of Pangbournians.

No. The Four Pillars are fundamental to Pangbourne's identity and will remain unchanged. In fact, being part of Mill Hill Education Group is expected to enhance each pillar; broadening academic opportunity, strengthening the adventure offer, enriching the community, and amplifying Pangbourne's leadership voice.

No. Pangbourne's adventure programme is unique within Mill Hill Education Group and we will continue to develop character and resilience. Pangbourne is expected to play a leading role in extending the programmes across the Group, helping to attract more feeder schools and to become a recognised centre of excellence for outdoor education in the South East.

No. Our vision is to provide an academic education alongside an ethos of adventure; supporting our young people to acquire the knowledge, skills and character to become kind, confident and articulate adults ready to leave a positive mark on a changing world. This move will allow us to strengthen and amplify our ethos and values, enhancing the sense of community that makes the College so unique.

No. Pangbourne's distinctive heritage, uniform, ceremonial traditions and Parade infrastructure will remain exactly as the community knows and loves them. These are considered defining features of a Pangbourne education and will be protected and preserved.

By being part of Mill Hill Education Group, Pangbourne students will benefit from educational resources, cross-school events and specialised collective expertise. They will also gain access to Oxbridge preparation programmes, Medical and Dentistry application support, American University scholarship support, Degree Apprenticeship pathways and a wider careers programme. This sharing of group expertise and resources is just one exciting example of how our offering will be strengthened beyond that which a standalone school could  provide. 

No. The Head and Senior Leadership Team will retain delegated authority over curriculum choices and decisions around admissions of staff and students. The deliberately broad intake that Pangbourne curates will remain unchanged.

No. Pangbourne's boarding provision is part of the offering at the College and will continue as before. Mill Hill Education Group values boarding as part of a distinctive educational offering.

Fees will be reviewed each year in the Summer Term at the annual review  as they always have been. Mill Hill Education Group's model is to set fees according to what is right for each school's market and we want to ensure that parents and students continue to benefit from and value Pangbourne’s educational offering. Mindful of the sacrifices parents make to send their children to independent schools, being part of a group is expected to bring some economies of scale that will help keep fees as competitive as possible. Ultimately, our aim is to offer students the very best education (including the fair remuneration of staff) whilst effectively managing costs.

All existing bursaries and scholarships will be fully honoured and will continue to be offered. Pangbourne's commitment to financial accessibility is shared by Mill Hill Education Group and will be upheld. Donors can also continue to make charitable gifts exclusively to Pangbourne to support Transforming Futures bursaries and specific building or capital projects.

No. Pangbourne occupies a strong position in the wider market. The Governing Body was able to run an extensive, detailed  process to identify the best partner precisely because the College is in good health. This decision was made from a position of strength, not necessity, and to future proof the College in the current turbulent independent education sector. 

No. Pangbourne's bank account details remain unchanged for now and will continue as normal until the charitable merger formally takes effect. Families should therefore continue to pay fees in the usual way.  As with any organisation, we encourage vigilance against potential fraud and advise parents to treat with caution any unexpected communication requesting changes to payment details. Pangbourne College will always communicate any genuine changes clearly and directly.

One of the key benefits of joining Mill Hill Education Group is the ability to access group investment and expertise for capital projects. Mill Hill Education Group has a strong track record of enabling infrastructure improvements across its schools, including the delivery of new facilities on time and to specification, often with significant procurement savings. 

Leadership will stay firmly rooted within the College. The Head and Senior Leadership Team will retain full delegated responsibility for the life and direction of the College. Mill Hill Education Group operates a highly devolved model, recognising that school leaders are best placed to make decisions for their own communities.

Under the charitable merger, the existing Pangbourne Governors have no ongoing legal role within the combined charity.  However, to preserve continuity and institutional knowledge, a group of existing Governors will meet with the Mill Hill Education Group CEOafter the merger, in an Advisory Board capacity, to provide input and share their experience to ensure the smoothest transition. The overarching Governing Body that provides strategic oversight and fiduciary governance across the Group is called the Court of Governors of the Mill Hill Education Group. The Mill Hill Education Group operates a federated educational charity model. While each individual school in the group (like Mill Hill School or Belmont) may have its own designated head or localised advisory board, overarching governance and legal responsibility rest with the Court. The Court of Governors (who are similarly unpaid volunteers) will take on formal oversight responsibility. 

No. Mill Hill Education Group operates a deliberately devolved model of governance and decision-making. Decisions about curriculum, recruitment of staff and pupils and the character of College life remain with the Head and Pangbourne's Senior Leadership Team. Group oversight is focused on strategic direction and financial stewardship.

Pangbourne College Limited (charity number 309096) will merge with the Mill Hill School Foundation (the legal charity behind Mill Hill Education Group). Both charities share compatible educational aims, enabling a charitable merger in which Pangbourne's assets and liabilities transfer to the Mill Hill School Foundation. This is a well-established legal process used by many schools in the sector.

All staff will be offered new contracts on the same terms and conditions as they currently enjoy and be transferred across through a TUPE process to the Mill Hill Education Group. Job security, pay, and contractual rights are fully protected. The merger is expected to enhance career opportunities, not reduce them.

The merger is about enhancing the College, not about cutting costs through redundancies. Mill Hill Education Group will undertake a review in due course but their model is to strengthen schools, not to impose central cost-reduction measures on staff. The intention is for Pangbourne to grow and thrive, which over time should expand the range of career opportunities available to staff. The recent Divisional changes, as part of Campus 2030 phase one,  mean that Pangbourne already runs a tight ship in terms of its staffing model ensuring that fees are as cost efficient as possible. 

Being part of Mill Hill Education Group provides staff with access to world-class training, the ability to share best practice with colleagues across more than a dozen schools and enhanced career progression pathways within a larger organisation. The quality of teaching is central to Mill Hill Education Group's mission which aligns with Pangbourne’s vision; investment in staff development is a key priority to fulfil this.

No. There are no planned changes to the Senior Leadership Team or staff, both teaching and operational, as a result of the merger. The Head and Senior Team will continue in their current roles with full delegated authority.

The Pangbournian Community brings together the wider family of Pangbourne: parents, alumni, partners and friends. The Community plays a central and active role in the life of the College. Led by the Pangbournian Community Advisory Board (PCAB), the Community brings together all aspects of community life.  Every leaver will continue to automatically become an Old Pangbournian and to engage with the College and with one another exactly as they do today. Clubs, societies and careers support will continue as they do now, alongside a full calendar of events, reunions and Community communications. 

Yes. Treasure, time and talent remain the three invaluable ways our Community supports the College. Through the time and talent of our growing network of mentors, the guidance and opportunities available to students through the Future Pathways programme will continue to grow. In terms of treasure, the warmth, loyalty and generosity of the Pangbournian Community are helping to realise Pangbourne’s Campus 2030 vision and strengthen our Transforming Futures bursary programme, with every gift making a meaningful difference. Pangbourne’s philanthropic initiatives are a source of great pride and within the new arrangements all donations will be ring-fenced to support the College and its key projects.

No. There are no implications for the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Memorial Garden, the Trustees or the Annual Service. Visitors will also be welcomed as they are currently. 

Yes. Pangbourne is rooted in the local community it draws its name from and will remain so, continuing the strong relationships that exist across the wider family of Pangbourne.

Mill Hill Education Group is also announcing its merger with St Gabriel's in Newbury, meaning Pangbourne will be part of a hub of Mill Hill Education Group schools in the region,  including Heathfield School in Ascot,  enabling even greater local collaboration.

Mill Hill Education Group currently consists of thirteen UK schools and one international school in Thailand. UK schools include the Mill Hill family of schools (Mill Hill School, Belmont, Grimsdell, Mill Hill International), Cobham Hall (Kent), Keble Prep (London), Lyonsdown School (London), Hertford Prep (Hertfordshire), Kingshott (Hertfordshire), Abbot's Hill (Hertfordshire), Westbrook Hay (Hertfordshire), Framlingham College (East Anglia) and Heathfield School (Ascot, Berkshire). St Gabriel's (Newbury, Berkshire) is also joining the group alongside Pangbourne College. 

Yes. Several strong examples demonstrate the benefits for schools that have joined the group. Keble Prep grew pupil numbers by 50% within three years. Westbrook Hay achieved significant facility improvements with procurement savings of over £1.5 million. Framlingham College, a day and boarding school for pupils aged 2–18, joined the Group earlier this year and is experiencing the value of a broader network and the opportunity to collaborate with and draw on expertise from across a family of schools, while maintaining its distinctive character and educational ethos. The 1729 Maths School -  the UK's first dedicated 11-18 maths school -  is due to open within Mill Hill School in September 2026.

No. Each school within Mill Hill Education Group retains its individuality, character and identity. The group is deliberately diverse - from pre-school nurseries to international boarding schools - and Mill Hill Education Group's model is built on preserving what makes each school distinctive. Pangbourne's name, identity, adventure ethos, traditions and character are considered core assets, not things to be standardised away. 

Within the Mill Hill Education Group, each of the schools retain their identities as separate schools with individual brands. Pangbourne’s brand will remain as it is currently. 

Mill Hill Education Group's purpose is to give a great education to the pupils in its care, and this is achieved better by working collaboratively. There will be areas of excellence at Pangbourne that Mill Hill Education Group  can share across its other schools, and vice versa. By helping Pangbourne to continue to thrive, Mill Hill Education Group furthers its own charitable objectives. This is a mutually beneficial charitable merger.

There is already variety within the Group (in terms of both geography and the nature of the educational offer) and by adding Pangbourne to the Group, the potential impact and influence on the sector is widened. At a time of disruption and uncertainty, this charitable merger provides a positive long-term strategic vision within a changing sector as well as an exciting platform for meaningful change for both Mill Hill Education Group and Pangbourne. 

No. Mill Hill Education Group is a charity, not a commercial entity. It does not distribute profits or operate for financial gain. The income is reinvested in the education of pupils across its schools. Pangbourne's charitable assets are protected and remain dedicated to educational purposes.

Yes. Mill Hill Education Group is developing local networks of schools for mutual support. With Heathfield School in Ascot already in the group and St Gabriel's in Newbury joining at the same time as Pangbourne, there will be a strong regional cluster. These networks will  facilitate staff training, networking events and opportunities for some shared pupil activities. There will also be opportunities to collaborate with other schools within the group  who are located further afield. 

Yes. Pangbourne's adventure infrastructure and facilities can be more fully utilised through greater engagement with feeder schools and the wider Mill Hill Education Group network. This supports our aim for Pangbourne to become a recognised centre of excellence for outdoor education and character development in the South East. With Mill Hill Education Group’s commercial expertise, it will also help to generate revenue from facilities (non-fee income) that will be reinvested in the College's infrastructure.

Yes. We are holding presentations - details of which are included within the letter you will have received advising you about the charitable merger. We very much hope you will be able to join us.  After the meeting, if you still have any subsequent questions, please do not hesitate to contact: [email protected] 

The College is committed to being open and transparent. Current families will be kept fully informed and updated via the weekly parent newsletter. Prospective and new joiner families will be kept apprised of further updates via email until they join the College. The Pangbournian Community will be kept informed via the half termly Community newsletter. 

Please send any questions you may have to [email protected] and your query will be directed to the most suitable person. Mill Hill Education Group’s  CEO, Antony Spencer, is also available to answer questions from the Pangbournian Community during the transition.

The accounts for the Mill Hill School Foundation charity are publicly available via the Charity Commission's website. The link to these is here.