PARENTS say they will fight the shock decision to close their children’s school.

Priory College in Bath Road shut its doors out of the blue after receiving an 'inadequate' rating in its latest Ofsted report.

Mum Laura McVittie is one of those who has vowed to fight the decision.

She said: “I want justice for the students there and hope the decision is reversed. I’m prepared to fight this with other parents.

“My 17-year-old son is devastated. He just finished his first year and was really looking forward to going back but now I don’t know where he will go.

“I’m worried about the effect this will have on his mental health and that of his friends. He’s angry, confused and upset because he doesn’t understand why this has happened.

“I received a call from the college on Monday and it was closed on Friday, I was not happy. We should have been given more notice and no-one who goes to or works there deserved this.

“It should not have been shut just because of a bad Ofsted report. At least give it a year so the staff have time to change things around and improve.

“The college has been amazing to my son. He had a lot of issues with bullying and never felt safe at his previous school but he was really happy at Priory.”

Several students from the college took part in work experience placements at community radio station Swindon 105.5 where they learned about production and broadcasting.

Station director Shirley Ludford said: “It’s going to be a sad loss. The news was a shock to everyone and this important provision will be greatly missed.

“There were plans for more students to come in to the station from September and we’ve had a great relationship with the college for six years.

“It’s good that some mums are speaking up because it shows the staff that that parents were happy with the work they did. If any reconsideration can be given to the closure, I’m sure it will be appreciated by many families.”

A spokesman for Priory College Swindon said: “We genuinely regret having to close the college but there is insufficient demand for placements which means it is not economically sustainable.

"We are currently working closely with all parents to help them find appropriate alternative arrangements including at our college in Frome.”