Ringwood School nearly closed to pupils after an unauthorised traveller encampment gained entry to sports field off Parsonage Barn Lane

A New Forest secondary school was on the verge of shutting its doors to pupils today (Monday) after a large group of travellers moved onto its sports field.

Ringwood School announced an unauthorised encampment of about 12 caravans had gained entry to the Parsonage Barn Lane field around 3.15pm on Saturday.

It warned it may have to remain closed today for safety reasons if the group had not moved on by then.

However, police issued a section 61 notice, requiring the travellers move on, yesterday (Sunday) morning.

The school then confirmed shortly before 4pm that day they had left and it would be open as normal today.

Its post on Saturday said: “At around 3.15pm today, a group of approximately 12 caravans from the travelling community gained entry to the main school sports field.

“We are liaising with police and the relevant local authorities and will do everything we can to see that the travellers leave as soon as possible to minimise impact on the school.

“If this group have not left by Monday, then we might have to close the school and move to remote education to ensure the safety and safeguarding of our students due to the proximity of the caravans to the school buildings.”

It had added students taking public exams would not be affected as these would have gone ahead “with due safety measures”.

The school’s operations manager, Sam Coombes, told the A&T today: “The group left yesterday [Sunday] after a section 61 notice was issued by police.

“The school is operating as normal today.”