Parents have spoken of their shock and disgust after their children were told not to turn up to school with just a day’s notice.

Some pupils have even been told classes will not be running next week either.

The parents of children between years 7 and 10 at St Luke’s in Cricklade Road – a school for pupils who have been removed from mainstream education – received a letter on Wednesday from Swindon Borough Council’s head of education Peter Nathan citing health and safety concerns due to a shortage of staff.

The letter stated that the school would be closed on Thursday and again yesterday.

They were also advised in the same letter that the half-term break would be extended from one week to two, beginning on October 16, a week earlier than initially scheduled.

But a Swindon Borough Council spokesman further added there would be a partial closure of the school into next week up until Friday.

Steve Harling, whose 13-year-old stepson is a pupil at St Luke’s, said: “He came home on Wednesday around 3pm, and he had a letter saying not to send him to school for the next two days. People who work have only received 12 hours’ notice. Surely they must have known at least a few days earlier that this was going to be an issue.

“It is a school for children who don’t fit into mainstream schools, so they may have trouble recruiting teachers to work with them.

“But that makes it harder for the parents. If you have a kid with special needs, you can’t just leave them with anybody.”

The letter from Mr Nathan said: “It is with regret that I am writing to inform you that I have made the decision to shut St Luke’s to years 7-10 for the remainder of this week. The school has experienced significant staffing issues over the last two weeks which coupled with unprecedented student numbers has led to some health and safety concerns.”

The letter has added to concerns which parents have already raised about the school.

One parent, who sent an anonymous letter to the Adver, said: “The poor children are unsafe, it’s not their fault there are no staff. Under no circumstances would I send my child there if I had my time again.

“To feel your child is unsafe at school is a huge thing.”

The same parent also said children had turned up to a science exam at the school only to find the exam had been held the previous week.

Staff at St Luke’s School were approached by the Adver yesterday but refused to comment on the closure of their school.

A council spokesman said: “St Luke’s School has written to parents to inform them that regrettably, the school is currently conducting a partial closure until Friday, 29 September.

“The council is working hard to ensure this does not affect all pupils and that the school fully opens as soon as possible. Arrangements have been made for Year 11 pupils, who are taking GCSEs next summer, to attend school as normal. Pupils who receive off-site tuition will still continue to receive this.

"There will be provision for other pupils at the school next week and arrangements are in place for pupils who are not in school to receive school work at home, with visits from school staff, additional tuition and educational activities to make sure pupils do not miss out on their learning.

“Swindon Borough Council is working in partnership with a local academy chain to secure the full re-opening of the school as soon as possible. Interviews are being held early next week to secure additional staff and implement changes that are required.

“St Luke’s is a small special school of 69 pupils currently on roll, so the school does not just work on the principal of year groups. It is planned that the majority of pupils will be in school next week.”