Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe A 450-year-old Lincolnshire grammar school racked up hundreds of thousands in losses after parents decided not to bus their children 30 miles to the secondary at the height of the pandemic. Reserves at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar Alford have dwindled in the five years since intake figures were cut by more than a fifth in lockdown. The government has issued the school with a notice to improve amid concern over its “weak” financial position, despite leaders’ insistence that they have weathered the worst of the storm. Become a member for unlimited access to Schools Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.