'Parents are understandably angry — and they are right to be' Union reacts to sudden closure of Luton school
Parents have been left scrambling after the sudden closure of a Luton school with ‘no warning at all’.
King's House Moorlands School, on High Street, Leagrave, closed with just 30 minutes’ notice after parents received a letter at 4.30pm that it would be closing its doors for good at 5pm.
One parent told the Luton News “No warning at all. Teachers in the dark, all lost jobs and not being paid today. Kids scrambling to find new schools etc.”
Luton Borough Council says it will be holding face-to-face advice sessions at Luton Central Library to help support families now looking for alternative school places, and that help and support is being offered.
These will take place on Tuesday, March 3 from 4pm to 5pm and Thursday, March 5 from 9am to 10am.
It stressed that while the DfE is responsible for the oversight of independent schools – it had stepped in after being alerted to the “worrying situation”.
A spokesperson said: “We are very concerned by the sudden closure of Kings House Moorlands Independent School. Losing a school place at short notice is deeply unsettling, and we understand this news will cause uncertainty and distress for pupils, parents, carers and staff.
“While the council does not have a legal duty to secure alternative school places from an independent school, we are concerned that young people have abruptly been left with no education, so are working closely with and pressing the school to make sure parents are fully informed about their options and understand how the in‑year admissions process works.
“Our immediate priority is to help guide parents and carers through the process in applying for a new school place as quickly and smoothly as possible, so that children can continue their education with minimal disruption.
“The council’s School Admissions Team is working closely with local state-funded schools to identify available places. Parents will need to apply in line with the council’s established in-year admissions process.
“We are also mindful of the impact on teaching and non-teaching staff facing redundancy. The council has written to headteachers across Luton to make them aware of the situation and share information about suitable vacancies.
“This is a challenging and uncertain time for everyone affected, and we are committed to providing clear, compassionate support and guidance to help every pupil return to stable, high-quality education as quickly as possible.”
David Mingay, branch secretary of the National Education Union has questioned how the situation arose – with nearly 200 pupils now without a school place.
He said: “The school must have known for some time that it was in a difficult financial position, and to suddenly close with no notice is completely unacceptable.
"This sudden closure now leaves nearly 200 pupils without a school place and many staff out of a job, with no clarity about whether they will be paid for the work they have already undertaken.
“Parents are understandably angry — and they are right to be. Families placed their trust in the school to provide stability, transparency and proper stewardship. Instead, they have been left dealing with uncertainty and distress at very short notice.”
He added: “The leadership of the school must urgently explain how this situation was allowed to develop, why there was no earlier communication with parents and staff, and what immediate support will be put in place for students now without a school place. There must also be clear guarantees for staff members regarding outstanding pay and support following their sudden loss of income."
King’s House Moorlands has been contacted for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we know more.