The UK’s only Scientology school has lost 25% of its students after having their visa-granting status revoked and an inspection flagged serious safeguarding concerns.

Greenfields School, near Forest Row in Sussex was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in March 2024 where concerns about the school’s administration practices and safeguarding policies were raised. A follow-up inspection took place in December 2024 during which inspectors found its concerns had been handled, however its report on student numbers reveals the school has lost 25% of its total cohort, down from 176 in March to 133 in December.

In a letter to parents dated 5th February 2025, headteacher Andrew Hodgson wrote “I am very pleased to be sharing the most recent report on Greenfields School from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The report states that the school meets all the standards that were considered during the inspection.”

“Safeguarding gets the full seal of approval with arrangements “implemented effectively” and all regulatory requirements met. The fact that concerns are promptly responded to and clearly recorded is also mentioned, as well as the monitoring done by senior staff and trustees.”

In their report, the ISI state the school “now monitor(s) pupil achievement and use(s) suitable strategies to support and challenge pupils with different prior attainment.” It goes on to reveal “governors are frequent visitors to the school. They now receive detailed reports and data related to pupil progress and achievement,” suggesting this was not the case prior to the previous inspection. “This information ensures that governors are well informed and can support and challenge school leaders effectively.”

The report also notes “appropriate measures are in place to reduce potential risks posed to pupils and staff by extremism and radicalisation” however it does not reference the extremist nature of Scientology’s belief system, which teaches “incorrect technologies” (other religious beliefs) must be “hammered out of existence.”

The school makes use of L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘Study Technology’, which Scientology claims is secular in the context of it’s schools and front groups but forms part of their religious scripture when used in their Churches.

Greenfields headteacher Andrew Hodgson is a committed Scientologist and was recently featured in a Saint Hill newsletter sent to parishioners. “It’s very exciting to me to be here, going OT!” The Operating Thetan (OT) Levels are the confidential upper levels on Scientology’s ‘Bridge to Total Freedom’ which are completed after attesting to the state of ‘Clear’ and cost thousands of pounds. At OT3, also known as the ‘Wall of Fire’, Scientologists are told about Hubbard’s belief that 75 million years ago a galactic overlord called Xenu imprisoned us on Earth and dropped H-bombs on volcanoes, resulting in mass trauma which still affects us all to this day.

“I am travelling the Original Route to Clear and before I embarked on it I got to do Power and Power Plus.” Hodgson writes. “These actions were absolutely fantastic as they unlocked such a wellspring of power that I felt unstoppable. Then I did OT Preparations, Eligibility and the Solo Auditor Course. It prepared me perfectly for auditing myself on the Advanced Courses”

“Now I am on my Clearing Course and making my way to Clear and then OT. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is for us all to do that! It truly is the best thing ever, don’t wait!”

Greenfields had their student visa-sponsoring status revoked after a Home Office inspection last year, with Hodgson writing to parents at the time “current sponsorship will end on 31st July 2024.” It is unclear whether the decision was related to Hodgson’s newly found “wellspring of power.” On request for further information around the circumstances of the inspection, UK Visas & Immigration told us “if an institution is found to not meet the standards required of a Sponsor, compliance action will be taken, up to and including revocation where appropriate.”

“A visit report is a record of a range of checks undertaken during the site visit, aligned to the Sponsorship requirements, and therefore will contain sensitive information relating to the institution’s operations. A sponsor may not engage frankly and openly with UKVI during the visit or as part of its licence lifecycle activity if it believes sensitive information may then be made public.”

A source close to the school told us “I didn’t fully understand why the visas were taken away. It was either because the normal paperwork was not submitted on time or due to the inspection that found them sub-par.”

It is understood international students made up about 20% of Greenfields’ cohort prior to losing their visa status, however due to the higher fees charged for overseas pupils they accounted for up to 2/3 of the school’s income. The school recently increased tuition fees by 30% but due to changes in legislation they must now pay 20% VAT (sales) tax, bringing their financial security into question.

A spokesperson for East Sussex County Council said: “Following the report from the ISI,  the Local Authority followed up these concerns with the school and were satisfied that all appropriate actions were being taken to address the safeguarding concerns.  The ISI confirmed this view in their follow up visit in December 2024.

“As with all educational establishments, the school is responsible for reducing any risks with regards to preventing and responding to extremism and radicalisation. The Local Authority’s training offer and guidance documents support schools in fulfilling these duties.”

You can view the headteacher’s letter to parents, the ISI report and the response we received from UK Visas & Immigration below.