A RESPECTED school that has taught children in Hampshire for more than 100 years is facing closure.

Wykeham House School in Fareham last night confirmed it's future hangs in the balance and could be closed within months due to financial difficulties.

The news has been met with shock, with the leader of Fareham Borough Council describing the possible closure of the private school as an "absolute tragedy".

It comes only two years after the school celebrated its centenary and opened a new Boys’ Junior School - having previously operated as a girls only school. A year later it opened a new Boys’ Senior School.

In a statement issued last night the school said: “Due to increasing financial pressure Wykeham House School in Fareham is facing the prospect of closure at the end of the Autumn term. Wykeham House has been providing education for over 100 years in Fareham and will be sadly missed by all the staff and children.”

The school, led by headmistress Jan Caddy, celebrated praise in its most recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in October 2013 and in August pupils achieved a 83 per cent pass rate in their GCSEs.

The Board of Trustees has confirmed the school, which has 129 pupils aged between three and 16, will continue at least until the end of the term, which ends in December.

“Staff and families have been kept up to date with the situation,” the school added.

“The trustees have been working hard to secure the future of the school which is now continuing until at least the end of this term.”

Wykeham House School was founded at Orme Lodge in West Street, Fareham in 1913, but moved to 69 High Street in 1928.

It moved to its present East Street site in 1986.

According to the school’s website, it employs around 50 full and part-time staff.

Cllr Woodward said he understood the school had struggled to bring in enough pupils.

He said there was competition for places with several other private schools in the area, but said that Wykeham House was well established.

“It’s very sad,” he said.

“I know many many people have been pleased with the standard of education provided.

“It’s an absolute tragedy for them - they only celebrated their centenary two years ago and it’s a very well-known private school in Fareham and they have children that go there from all over Hampshire.

“It would be a huge loss and clearly it’s very bad news for the staff and it’s bad news for the pupils - it’s very disruptive to their education.”