A private Scientology school in Sussex, which lost its ability to sponsor visas for international students earlier this year, has appealed to parents to donate money in a desperate attempt to rescue the charity from financial hardship.
Greenfields School, which has Scientology’s UK lawyer Peter Hodkin as it’s Head of Trustees and teaches pupils using L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘Study Technology’, has set up the new ‘Greenfields School Fund’ which aims to build “a better and brighter future for current and future students.”
In a letter sent to parents, the school said “We are asking supporters to sponsor with a monthly
donation.”
“Donating to our charity is a great way to get the maximum benefit for the students of Greenfields. Firstly, there is no VAT on charitable donations. Not only that, if you are a UK taxpayer and opt to Gift Aid your donation (which simply requires checking a box) the school can claim an additional 25% of the value of your donation. So, if you donate £100, the government will add £25 to this amount and you can claim tax relief on your donation. Win win!”
Back in September, Scientology Business reporter Panopea Abrupta revealed Greenfields School was facing uncertainty after having its visa-sponsoring ability revoked by the Home Office and it had recently increased tuition fees by 30%. At the time, it is understood foreign students accounted for about two thirds of their annual income due to being charged higher fees than those from the UK.
In March the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) flagged several safeguarding concerns after inspecting the school, something headteacher Andrew Hodgson hit out at inspectors for. “They did not entirely understand the role that study technology plays in allowing students to progress at their own pace” he wrote in a letter to parents. “They did not fully appreciate the extent of what we had provided with regard to extra-curricular activities.”
A source close to the school told us Greenfields is “going through some BIG financial problems. The loss of the ability to have boarding school students / ability to sponsor visas was big financial blow.”
In a letter sent to parents promoting the new ‘Greenfields School Fund’, people who have donated £500 or more are listed in different donation tiers, similar to the list of donors seen in International Association of Scientologists (IAS) propaganda. The list includes a number of prominent UK Scientologists, including former London staffers Louisa and Ale Calcioli, whose 2013 Supreme Court case led to Scientology chapels being listed as “places of worship” for the purpose of religious wedding ceremonies.
Also mentioned on the list is Mark Pinchin, who was once Director of Special Affairs (DSA) at London Org, and who took part in ‘Fair Game’ harassment against BBC reporter John Sweeney during the making of a BBC Panorama documentary on Scientology. Greenfields’ headteacher Andrew Hodgson is also listed as a donor along with Lizzy Calcioli, sister of the famous author Neil Gaiman and two of her children Leo and Ale. Top of the list is Peter Hodkin himself, the head of the board of trustees.
Friends of Greenfields (£500)
Samuel & Alena Bonome
Leo & Megan Calcioli
Louisa & Alessandro Calcioli
Natalie & Aaron Zimmatore
Michael & Tamara Richardson
Stephanie Kane & Bertalan Halasz
Rosalba & Brice Galibert
Yvette & Adam Kloss
Andrew & Cindy HodgsonSponsor of Greenfields (£1000)
Barbara & Mark Kolb
Sam & Cheryl Banks
Carl & Giulia Zimmatore
Mark & Lauren Pinchin
The McEntyre & Hoole Families
Sander & Erin ScholsSilver Sponsor of Greenfields (£2500)
Natalia & Daniel Garside
Lizzy & Mauro CalcioliGold Sponsor of Greenfields (£5000)
Ruaraidh & Sarah MacLeod
Peter & Terrie Hodkin
Although the list only features those who have donated £500 or more, the fund appears to have already raised at least £25,500 for the school. It is unclear how much money needs to be raised in addition to tuition fees in order to secure the school’s financial future.
As of March 2024, the school had 176 students with tuition fees ranging from £4,200 to £14,400 a year depending on the age of the student.
You can see the Greenfields School Fund document below.
