A school in Penn which was forced to close last summer due to financial difficulties has been sold to the government for more than £11 million.

It has been revealed a government agency reportedly paid £11.49 million for the Penn School site on Church Road.

The amount has been branded an "absolute scandal" by campaigner Sheelagh Seeley.

She said: "[As a result of the closure] children are being ripped apart from their siblings and mothers are turning to anti-depressants.

"We needed £1.5 million at the time which we were not given to keep the school going.

"Now the same trustees that sank the school will benefit because there will be a surplus left [from the sale].

"The council did nothing to save the school."

It is thought the money will be used by administrators Deloitte to pay creditors, according to national reports.

The school, which was a non-maintained day and boarding school for pupils with communication difficulties, was sold to the Education Funding Agency (EFA) earlier this year after Deloitte put the site up for sale for £6 million in November last year.

The closure left staff without a job and forced parents to find new schools for their children.

The school was placed in special measures by Ofsted in 2013 and despite moving up to 'requires improvement' last year, it was announced it would close unless a buyer was found.

Despite hard campaigning and fundraising efforts by parents and teachers, the school closed in July last year.

The EFA, which was formed in 2012, is responsible for distributing funding for state education in England, as well as managing the estates of schools and colleges.

- What are your thoughts on the sale? Let us know in the comments below, email shruti.sheth@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 01494 755082.