THE Mount School in York has defended its decision to become a girls-only school despite an angry reaction from parents.

On Friday, families received a letter saying The Mount’s private junior school, Tregelles, would stop admitting boys from September this year, meaning the whole school would be exclusively for girls from the ages of four to 18.

However, parents have criticised the lack of consultation and said it was “cowardly” to send the letters the day the school broke up for Easter.

One parent who contacted The Press, but did not want to be named, said: “It‘s the most appalling way of doing business.

“There’s been no opportunity for consultation. If you are a paying parent you expect some sort of input.

Julie Lodrick, principal of The Mount, said: “There is never a good time to make an announcement regarding any change within a school, but we felt that it would be better not to upset the children while they were in school at the end of term.”