Liz Greensmith, from Woodfield Avenue, Carshalton Beeches, is concerned about son James, 15, who is in year 10 doing GCSEs at Stowford College.

She said: “He’s a mainstream pupil but has learning difficulties – he’ll find changing schools very difficult.

“I’m angry and totally devastated. Even if he can stay on at Eagle House Sutton, he’ll have a different environment to get used to and I don’t know the same thing won’t happen again.”

Tracy Honey, 39, from Peterborough Road, Carshalton, said autistic son Alan, 12, only started at Stowford College seven months ago.

She said: “He's only just settled in. He's finding it hard to accept what's happening. This is one huge change and autistic children do not like change.

“Not only that, it's going to massively disrupt his education. It's going to be a nightmare when he has to leave.”

Michelle Scorziello, 46, from Briar Hill, Purley, removed dyslexic son Liam, 13, from the school in February because she did not like the way Eagle House was running Stowford College.

She said: “He'd been at the school for five years but I wasn't happy when Eagle House took over. The teachers were great but it felt more like a business than a school.

“Liam now goes to another specialist school in Reigate, which costs twice as much and we have to travel further.”

Lorraine Lewton, 40, from Wendling Road, St Helier, said the news of Stowford College's closure was “very distressing” for son George, 11, who has ASD.

She said: “He doesn't adapt to change very well, suffers from anxiety and finds it difficult to make friends.

“I'm worried about the effect all of this is going to have on him. Stowford College was the best thing that ever happened to him.”