PARENTS of St Aldhelm’s Academy expressed their anger about the school’s temporary closure at a meeting on Saturday.

On Friday, the struggling Rossmore school closed its doors to all pupils except those in Year 11, and the closure continues today and tomorrow.

At the meeting of some 40 parents with Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, organised by the Bourne Valley Action Group, many said they felt they had been left in the dark about the academy’s future.

Ian Stevens, of Rossmore Road, who went to the school himself and now has a son there, said: “I think it’s disgusting.

“The school will no doubt be closed until half term, it’s the easy way out for them.

“There are some very deprived children in this area, some victims of neglect, the one thing they should be able to rely on is school.”

Rob and Kim Kirk, of Branksome, said they were considering taking their daughter out of the school.

“It was our choice to put her there, for various reasons, there are some really good kids at that school and they are being let down,” said Mr Kirk.

“Promises are made and not delivered.”

“The kids in this area deserve a decent school,” said mother-of-three Kerry Manning, of Mil-borne Crescent.

“We want to get behind the academy but we are left in the dark. I’m not confident it will be open on Wednesday, I doubt the school know either.”

At the meeting at the Bourne Valley Youth Centre, Mr Burns said he had been assured by the managing Diocese of Salisbury that the school would reopen on Wednesday, however this had not assuaged his own doubts.

“Those of us involved with the school have a duty to keep trying,” said the MP, adding that he “empathised” with sceptical parents. The academy, which is within Mr Burns’ constituency, is in special measures and is one of the worst performing schools in the country.

It teaches 469 pupils aged 11 to 19.

It was closed due to staff absence and health and safety concerns, according to the diocese.