A BRADFORD education provider suddenly shut today - leaving many students and teachers in the wilderness.

The Opportunity Centre, run by The Aspire-Igen Group Ltd and located on Cheapside in the city centre, announced the closure of its doors on Wednesday, June 14.

Today, bosses at the education provider confirmed the organisation has been placed in administration.

It comes after an email was sent out to staff on Friday saying they would be made redundant either on that day or today.

In a statement to the Telegraph & Argus, a spokesperson said: "The Opportunity Centre is sad to announce that it will close its doors today.

"Years of austerity have led to the closure of the Connexions services and following on from the pandemic we have experienced our lowest ever levels of learner engagement.

"The Board has therefore decided that it must reluctantly decline the offer of a further contract for the delivery of Study Programmes, and all centres will close after the completion of the GCSE exams today, in order to ensure that they properly fulfil their responsibilities as directors.

"The organisation will be placed in administration, and we will continue to work with the Education & Skills Funding Agency and other funding bodies to ensure the swift transfer all clients to other provision." 

The email explains how the organisation had experienced funding issues due to a whole host of reasons.

These included lower than usual engagement on programmes, loss of EU funding, and a recent Inadequate Ofsted rating.

There were also concerns that they will "again be unable to recruit sufficient learners" to make them "financially viable".

With next year's Study Programme contract in the balance, many staff have given in their notice to leave recently. 

All this created doubt that the organisation would improve in time for its first monitoring visit from Ofsted later this year.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: CEO Caroline Harrison CEO Caroline Harrison

A letter addressed to staff from CEO Caroline Harrison read: "As you are aware, we have recently faced many operating challenges.

"Our funding issues arise largely due to the loss of EU funding and lower than usual engagement on our programmes following the lockdowns.

"However, the outcome of the Ofsted inspection has led to further difficulties, and a review of the organisation's viability.

"The delay in the award of next year's Study Programme contract has given rise to uncertainty about our future and too many staff have given notice to leave recently. 

"Unfortunately, this has created doubt about our ability to improve in time for the first Monitoring Visit in September. 

"There are also concerns that we will again be unable to recruit sufficient learners to make us financially viable.

"The Board have therefore decided to appoint Administrators next Wednesday after the conclusion of the GCSE exams.

The email added: "In the coming weeks, all staff will be made redundant.

"Many staff will be leaving us today and the majority of those remaining will leave on Wednesday.

"A few people will be retained to provide information to the administrators a while longer.

"All staff will receive a letter outlining further steps for claiming payments for notice, final salary, outstanding holiday entitlement and any redundancy entitlement.

"All staff will receive an email informing them of the date of leaving.

"An email will be going out before 4pm today to those people who will leave us today.

"Thank you for everything you have done. This is a very sad day for us all.

"I wish you all the very best for the future."

Back in March, Aspire-Igen said it was set to close some of its centres following its Inadequate Ofsted report.

The group received the lowest rating in five of the eight categories when the watchdog conducted its investigation on December 12-15.

Aspire-Igen provided education programmes for 575 young people across West Yorkshire and Humberside, including learners who have high needs.

At the time, the group said that, despite the serious challenges presented by Covid, achievement and progression rates remain among the strongest for this type of provision thanks to the dedication of its teaching staff.

Most of the provision was based in Bradford but there were other centres in Leeds, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Hull, and York.