AN INDEPENDENT school which has been running since the 1940s is facing the threat of closure.

Grey House School and Nursery, in Mount Pleasant, Hartley Wintney, has cited declining pupil numbers with the decision to consider the closure of the school.

A letter sent home to parents, seen by the Gazette, says the school, founded in 1943, explained the decline in numbers causing the closure consideration.

It reads: "Numbers in the school have been falling for the last three years.

"Furthermore, we normally expect an increase in registrations throughout the school over the summer term. Frankly, this year, this has not occurred therefore sadly we have no alternative but to consider closing the school."

The letter, sent out just days before the end of the school summer term, adds the school and nursery will remain open until Christmas 2018.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: "Our initial feeling was of anger, due to the way the letter was worded, the timing of it with nine days left of the school term, and the complete lack of warning that the school was struggling.

"Telling the children was very traumatic, with my daughter just bursting into tears, upset that she loved the school and didn’t want to leave.

"Although the school said it was continuing until Christmas, the idea of starting back in September to then start at another school a couple of months later once friendship groups had already been made, didn’t really didn’t really feel an option."

Despite finding other schools had limited places, and so feeling they were backed into a corner to make a decision, the parent found a new school for both their children.

The parent added: "Something as important as choosing a school shouldn’t be something you have to decide on in a few days and under pressure.

"You have to feel for the headmistress and staff as well, they are all excellent and dedicated at what they do, some have been there over 30 years and have without warning lost their jobs."