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Melbourne's prestigious presentation college windsor announces its closure.
School with smallest class ever
Parents of a prestigious Melbourne school forced to close down have questioned why management spent millions of dollars on pricey renovations when it knew it was already struggling to keep its doors open.
Four hundred students have been left in limbo after Presentation College Windsor - one of Melbourne's oldest Catholic schools - announced it would close at the end of 2020.
Watch the video above: Is this Australia's smallest class?
Falling enrolments have been blamed for the decision.
There were emotional scenes outside the school gates this morning as parents, students and staff came to grips with the shock decision.
Some students were too upset to attend classes and have been allowed to head home.
"I still can't get my head around it," Year 8 student Nellie-May said. "I'm pretty upset."
Mum Janet Mitchell said she didn't know what the future held.
"I've hardly slept all night," she said. "I don't know what our options are."
One parent, Danny, told radio 3AW, he was absolutely dumbfounded.
"They took on a couple of million-dollar extension on the school which started this year. I don't know why they would be spending millions of dollars," he said.
"It would have been in the wind since 2012 so I wouldn't spend a couple of million dollars on a house if I knew it was going to have a freeway put through the middle of it."
Stability needed
The school had only recently made additions to its uniform.
He said his daughter, like so many others, was at the pointy end of her education and needed stability.
"I just think it is quite harsh," the father said.
In a statement, the school acknowledged the decision was a difficult one.
" 'For our community ... this announcement will come as heartbreaking news.' "
"For our community, particularly those with a long history of connection to the college, this announcement will come as heartbreaking news," it said.
"Despite our best efforts to sustain and grow our learning environment, enrolments have continued to be a challenge for us."
The school said discussions were underway with Catholic partners regarding the future of Catholic education in the area.
"We hope to provide the community with more information as to future options for their daughters as it becomes available."
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