A POPULAR school at the heart of a rural Northumberland community has announced it will close.

Rock Hall School, near Alnwick, will close its doors in July next year after rising costs and falling pupil numbers made it impossible for teaching to continue.

Founded in 1984 and teaching children from nursery to 13, it is the last remaining independent school between Newcastle and Berwick.

The announcement, made to parents this week, will see 20 job losses and around 50 children being forced to find another school for the beginning of the next academic year.

Co-headteacher Lalage Bosanquet, who started the school in a shed in her back garden nearly three decades ago, said it was with great sadness the decision had been made.

She said: “It is with great regret that the governing body of Rock Hall School has decided that the school will close at the end of the summer term.

“A combination of rising costs, falling rolls and the continuing demands of government legislation make it impossible to carry on.

“The school has built up a considerable reputation for excellent academic results, music, drama and outdoors education pursuing a creative curriculum, which is increasingly hard to accommodate in a primary sector driven by SATs results and league tables.

“The school is determined to celebrate their success in the remaining months.

“I hope the school has represented all that is good and true in education of young children. I know that for many children who have passed through our door it will always be their favourite school.”

The school, which has taught more than 300 children, initially started with only three pupils. By 1992, it was bursting at the seams and was forced to move into a former youth hostel and manor house in Rock village, where it remains.

Deborah Cook, from Lesbury, whose son Archie is at the school, said: “We’re completely devastated. Rock Hall School is a most special place. This is a very sad time but we as parents would like to feel that perhaps all doors are not closed yet.”

Fellow parent Lucia Bridgeman said: “With four young children, we have had the most amazing experience over five years at Rock. It is a great loss to local families, leaving them without choice of an independent school and without the extraordinary breadth of curriculum that Mrs Bosanquet and her team have always provided. Anyone who has seen photos of activities at the school or the summer plays will appreciate Rock’s individual character.”