ADMINISTRATORS have cited a fall in the number of pupils as a major cause of the folding of Malsis School in Glusburn.

EY are now in the process of marketing the land and buildings at the former independent co-educational day and boarding school, to realise the assets.

The company has been working as administrators since taking over on December 11. Forty-nine employees have been made redundant.

The school's 61 pupils and their parents were informed early in November that the school would permanently close at the end of the autumn term, on December 10, when it would no longer be able to operate as a going concern.

Charles King, EY executive director and joint administrator to Malsis School Trust, said: “A fall in pupil numbers combined with pressure on fees impacted Malsis School Trust’s cash flow and the school could not continue to fund the resulting substantial losses.

“Despite efforts to secure a merger for Malsis School with another school, negotiations ended unsuccessfully in late October 2014, which left the trustees with no choice but to decide to close Malsis School in December 2014. The closure is a sad event for all associated with the school and the local community. "

The Craven Herald reported in October that the Malsis School Trust had been attempting to avert the closure by merging with Giggleswick School, but the talks had fallen through.

In a bid to raise extra cash, the trust had also secured outline planning permission for 50 homes on two sites within the school grounds.

And Giggleswick governors had spent eight weeks investigating ways of saving the school, but concluded that to revive Malsis, at least £1.5 million in extra cash was required on top of any money that might emerge from the proposed housing development.

Heather Hancock, chairman of governors at Giggleswick School, said at the time they were aware that the demise of Malsis would cause deep disappointment to pupils, parents and staff who had been so loyal to the school through its recent difficulties.