A UNHOLY row has forced a Christian church school to close from Friday.

The decision to close Leigh's Kings Park School was taken by the Church Council's five members after teachers at the day school resigned en-masse following a crisis meeting.

The teachers' decisions follows a major row about management style, with accusations of too much interference from the church in the way the school was run and not enough cash in the coffers to pay staff wages.

Headteacher Dave Gibson has already left the school and is believed to have returned to his former profession in the chemical industry.

Some parents in the school, which taught children between four and 16 years of age, have accused some church elders of being "too dictatorial".

One parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, told The Journal: "Let me just say that if people in the school fall out with people in the church then it makes life in the school unbearable for everyone, including pupils, teachers and parents and that is what has happened here.

"The school hasn't been stable for some time and has an unpleasant atmosphere."

At its peak Kings Park - a fee paying school - had 40 pupils. But 20 have already left to find places in other local schools. Parents paid £35 a week for their first child and a reduced fee for any subsequent child. The school had a policy of corporal punishment.

But, according to Senior Minister David Benson, it wasn't enough and the church subsidised the salaries of seven full-time and three part-time school staff.

Mr. Benson, whose children moved to a Church of England school, said: "I personally would like to offer my apologies and regret that this action has had to be taken. Both staff and parents have worked very hard and the school's closing is obviously sad and hurtful to all concerned.

"The school was financed by the church and was never profit making but that is not the main reason for our closure.

"Just let me say there has been a difference of opinion between school staff and the church management and I take full responsibility as senior minister.

"I apologise to staff and parents but the closure was unavoidable in the circumstances. I don't want to say any more."

A Wigan Council spokesman said: "I can confirm that there have been quite a lot of calls from parents with children at the school. Quite a lot of our main-stream schools have been approached to urgently find places for their children and we will do our utmost to assist them."

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