The National Education Union has claimed that staff found out their school was closing “via Facebook”, The Star has reported.

Jesuit-founded Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall School in Spinkhill, Derbyshire announced last Thursday that both schools were both closing with immediate effect. The schools offered independent day and boarding school for around 600 children.

In a statement the union said: “The NEU today expressed profound disappointment and concern following the immediate closure of Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall Independent School, a decision members reportedly discovered via Facebook. The union criticises the apparent lack of consultation and transparency surrounding such a significant decision, especially given the school’s recent promotional activities.”

“Decisions of this magnitude should follow extensive discussion and consultation. This stands in stark contrast to Mount St Mary’s College promoting an Open Day for September as recently as July 21.

“The NEU will be contacting all its members at Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall this week to provide essential advice and guidance on the way forward during this challenging period.”

Ian Marrey, NEU East Midlands senior regional officer, commented: “Staff, parents and students deserve more than to find out from social media that their school is to close.

“Staff are faced with an uncertain time without a job and income, and parents will have just a few short weeks to secure alternative education for their children in the new academic year.”

“It is disappointing when any school has to close, but we should always expect that students and staff are fully consulted before such a devastating decision is made. We call on the school to make public the background to this decision.”

A statement on Mount St Mary’s website says the schools have faced difficulties since 2015 and couldn’t be saved even with £3 million of “loans on very generous terms” from the Jesuits of Britain.