Parents who campaigned to save Penn School from closure say they are 'absolutely devastated' that negotiations with a potential buyer have come to a halt. 

Deloitte, who were appointed as administrators of the non-maintained special school in July, announced today that there is no prospect of the school being sold in its current form. 

Lee Manning, partner in Deloitte's restructuring services group, said everyone involved was 'bitterly disappointed' that the school could not be saved. 

He said: "Everybody involved in the management and funding of Penn School is bitterly disappointed that a sale could not be achieved to preserve the school as a going concern.

"However, there were numerous financial, legal and practical hurdles that had to be overcome in a relatively short timeframe, which sadly proved insurmountable. 

“We have kept in regular contact with the Department of Education, key local authorities and, critically, the parents.

"We hope that they will continue to work together to ensure that all the former pupils find suitable schools as soon as possible. Our thanks go to all of them, and the trustees, for their support and collaboration to date.”

Parent Amanda Burgess, who was heavily involved in the Save Penn School campaign group, said: “We are absolutely devastated, mostly because there are so many children without an appropriate place at another school. It is absolutely gutting.

“There is lots of sadness among parents; there are parents who have absolutely no idea what to do with their children.

“We know there are at least 15 pupils that haven’t got a new place, that is not acceptable. It feels like the children are being punished and it is not their fault.” 

Mrs Burgess, who lives in Hertfordshire, said her son had started his first day at his new school in Nottingham today. 

She said: "My son's new school is a three hour journey away. The school closure has implications for everyone, not just the children.

"I have been lucky to get my son a place and to have his transport covered, but others have not been so lucky."

Mrs Burgess said the Save Penn School campaign, made up of devastated parents who fought to save the school, will still be following the fate of the school in Church Lane, Penn. 

The group mounted a social media campaign to raise £1 million to save the school and tweeted celebrities for support. 

The campaigners were given a glimmer of hope when administrators confirmed they were in talks with five interested parties to buy the school. 

That number was reduced to one and Deloitte today announced 'with great regret' that discussions were unsuccessful. 

Mrs Burgess said: "We will continue to follow what’s going on with the site because we want to know the fate of the school, but as a campaign, there is not much more we can do now. We are still very angry and will be keeping in touch with the administrators.”