A long-established school has this evening announced it is to close at the end of this academic year.

Bury Catholic Preparatory School on Manchester Road is said to be 'no longer viable'.

In a statement, a spokesman said: "It is with deep sorrow that we announce that our beloved school will be closing at the end of this academic year.

"Declining pupil numbers over years and the more recent economic downturn, including the pandemic, have left the school financially unviable.

"This decision has not been taken lightly and we have engaged external expert advice and are acting upon this.

"As a non-profit entity in these unprecedented times of economic hardship it has become incredibly challenging to survive.

"As a dying breed of preparatory establishments with the aim to give children a well-rounded, moral early education it is indeed a sad state of the times to witness other schools in the same boat."

Once part of Bury Convent, Bury Catholic Preparatory School was originally set up by The Daughters of the Cross but was later taken over by Parent Governors in the 1970s, when the Sisters stepped down and the Preparatory School became completely independent.

Miss Helen Farrow, acting head, said: "Having been a pupil at the school myself, from the age of four, along with my siblings, and then later having taught at BCPS for 32 years, there is no-one more saddened by this closure than me.

"This special place has been a paragon of education which has stood proud in our town for so very long as a beacon for all that is good in terms of teaching, learning and personal development.

A spokesman for the governing body added: "As governors and parents at the school, our priority is to support families in finding the best places for their child and helping children to transition over this difficult time throughout the summer term."

In 2017 the school was given an excellent rating by the Independent Schools Inspectorate – the equivalent of Ofsted’s “outstanding” – in all categories.