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Campaigners try to halt closure of St Bees

Parents have applied for an interim injunction to halt the closure of St Bees School this summer.

The governors of the 400-year-old school had previously said it would close this year, but that they hoped to re-open it in 2016.

But campaigners say by then its long history will be destroyed and confidence in the school lost forever.

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St Bees governors to meet Charity Commission

Credit: ITV Border

The Charity Commission says it is planning to meet the governors of a closure-threatened independent school in West Cumbria.

St Bees, which has charitable status, first announced on 13 March it would shut this summer because of falling pupil numbers.

About a thousand people have signed a petition calling for the school's governors to resign.

"We have recently received complaints informing us of the governors' plan to close the school.

"We have contacted the governors for information regarding the situation and the decisions that were taken, and to make them aware of the importance of reporting serious incidents to us.

"The governors have responded to us and we are currently planning a meeting with them."

– Spokesperson for the Charity Commission

A spokesperson for the school told ITV Border that St Bees contacted the Charity Commission after a public meeting in April:

"The Commission issues specific guidance about reporting serious incidents and the Charity would always observe such guidance, however none of the categories covered by that guidance has arisen.

"Nevertheless the Charity has been advised that following a decision to close St Bees School a notification should be made and that was done after the meeting of 16 April 2015 when the Governors confirmed the decision to proceed to an orderly closure."

– Spokesperson, St Bees School
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Campaigners try to halt closure of St Bees

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