Independent school NOT closing - despite building being up for sale

Headteacher of Lord’s School, Anne Ainsworth, has reassured worried parents after For Sale signs were slapped all over its Breightmet Street building in Bolton town centre.

Mrs Ainsworth said she has parents contacting her asking whether the school, which has been in Bolton since 1906, was shutting.

The fee paying school has recently expanded to take in children from year three, adding to its secondary school provision and its sixth form, which opened recently.

But, even though the building is being sold, the school has a lease, which means it will remain open.

Mrs Ainsworth said: “The school is open as normal and everything is continuing as usual.

“It says in very small letters the business is open.

“We are worried that parents who would like to send their children here think we are closing.”

She added: “This comes just after we suffered a powercut on the day of the music exams.”

The signs come as a blow to the school, which charges up to £2,200 a term, as it only moved into its new building last year.

It left its base in Manchester Road in 2011 to move into bigger premises in Bridgeman Place as part of major expansion plans.

Lord’s then moved to Breightmet Street last year because of problems with flooding.

Since moving into the new building, the school has opened a junior school for key stage two children in response to the need for more school places Mrs Ainsworth said: “Up to a few years ago Lord’s educated children aged from 11 to 16 years old only, with its pupils being highly sought by local colleges, but in 2010, following requests from parents, Lord’s opened its sixth form offering a variety of A levels to students in very small groups of five or six, which ensures a good, supportive learning environment.

“This expansion has been triggered by the concerns of many parents about the fact there will be a shortage of primary school places this year due to the increased birth rate of a few years ago now beginning of school age.”