EXAM hopefuls have been left high and dry by the decision by an Ilkley independent school to shut its doors to senior pupils from next year, claim angry parents.

The announcement caused shock and disappointment for parents of 14-year-olds about to begin a two-year period of coursework and study towards their GCSEs.

At the end of the summer term, parents whose children attend Clevedon House School in Ben Rhydding, received the news that senior pupils would be phased out.

From July next year the senior school and all boarding facilities will be closed and Clevedon House, which is owned by the Society of Licensed Victuallers, will become a day school for juniors only.

The bolt out of the blue came just months after a new £1 million senior teaching block was officially opened by Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden.

But Gerald Rudett, whose 14-year-old son, Luke, attended Clevedon House, said that Year 10 pupils were left high and dry by the decision.

He said that GCSE course work which begins in Year 10 would be disrupted because not all schools followed the same arrangements.

"You can't move them out without having to re-schedule exams and course work. Year 10 has to go all the way through for two years, you can't match them," said Mr Rudett.

Mr Rudett said he made arrangements to place his son at Fulneck School, Pudsey, immediately to minimise the disruption to his education at a key stage, and said the announcement of the decision to phase out the senior school should have been made earlier.

"I think this is absolutely appalling. I have written to the Department of Education and the governors of the school.

"If they had told us at Christmas we could have done something in advance without having the pressure on," said Mr Rudett.

A spokesman for Clevedon House admitted that many of the parents of Year 10 pupils had already taken their children out without waiting for the official closure next year.

A statement issued on behalf of Ian Inder, the chairman of board of governors, says: "The initial reactions from parents, particularly from those senior school parents whose children would be commencing Year 10 this September, were ones of shock and disappointment.

"Understandably, some parents have already transferred their children, especially those in Year 10, who would otherwise need to change halfway through their GCSE course.

"Indeed it would be unrealistic to expect Year 10 pupils, who are about to begin their GCSE course, to remain at Clevedon House if parents can make alternative plans for September."

But the Gazette has learned that some parents are having difficulty finding alternative places for their children.

Some have appealed to Bradford Council after applying to Ilkley Grammar School and being turned down because it was full.

A spokesman for the council's education department said: "We have received three applications from parents of pupils currently at Clevedon House for places at Ilkley Grammar School.

"These cases will be heard by an independent appeals committee in early to mid-September."

But Mr Rudett, of Leeds Road, Ilkley, said that not knowing until September whether they have found a new school or not would cause more anxiety among pupils at a crucial time for them.

"It takes a term to settle in and make new friends. It is a big upheaval and takes a lot out of a child," said Mr Rudett.

Staff at Clevedon House have been contacting the head teachers of other independent schools in the area to see if they could take extra pupils this year.

The new head teacher, the Rev Alex Munro, has had several meetings with individual parents and groups.

Worried parents have been asked to contact the school office on 01943 608515.

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