An 80-year-old school has been closed with the loss of almost 65 jobs after falling into administration.
St Mary's in Worcester was an independent Catholic school and had been searching for a buyer for the past year.
It closed at the end of the summer term last week with Andy McGill and Greg Palfrey, from accountancy firm Smith & Williamson, appointed as administrators.
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The main school had 190 pupils, ranging from four to 18 years of age, and its nursery 'The Stables' catered for 70 children. It was the only all-girls school in the city.
The school was opened in 1934 by the Order of the Sisters of St Marie Madeline Postel which still owns the freehold and land from which the school operated.
Administrators said the school had struggled financially in recent years due to reducing pupil numbers and increasing costs and, although significant financial support had been provided by the Order during the past year, this was unable to continue.
Mr McGill added: "It is always difficult when a school has to close and it has been an extremely difficult period for the trustees, staff, parents and pupils.
"During the last year, a great deal of work has been undertaken by the trustees to try to find a buyer for St Mary's or formulate a long-term rescue plan.
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"Unfortunately, given the significant level of funding required, together with uncertainty regarding future pupil numbers, no viable solution could be found.
"The trustees have had no alternative but to appoint administrators and regrettably we have had to close the school and nursery with immediate effect."
Mr McGill added that the majority of the 65 teaching and admin staff would be made redundant with a skeleton team retained to provide short-term support.
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