Parents said they received no warning from the school, instead getting distressed calls from their daughters saying they had been told of the closure in a meeting.

Bishop of Bathurst Michael McKenna released a statement saying the boarding house was not taking new enrolments and on Friday said no date had been set for when the facility would close.

He said that date would depend on the outcome of discussions with parents and whether they wanted to make other arrangements for their daughters.

He said the decision was reached “with deep regret” and staff from the school and Catholic Education Office would make personal contact with families to assist in their decision-making about accommodation arrangements.

But that was not enough for Kylie Harvey who withdrew her daughter Caitlin from boarding on Thursday.

Mrs Harvey was angry about the lack of consultation with parents, saying she found out when her daughter rang her on Thursday, distraught by the news.

She said Cailtin phoned and said all the boarders had been called into the chapel to be told the boarding house would be closing at the end of the year. She said as soon as Caitlin told her she was in a spin.

Mrs Harvey said she thought the school would have contacted her with suggestions, a plan or information, but so far nothing.

“We’ve had no information whatsoever,” she said.

“There has been no planning or leadership, no one advocating for our behalf at the school. We feel completely helpless.”

Donna Ditchfield, whose daughter Georgia is in Year 9, said she too was left shocked.

“I got a phone call from my daughter telling me the boarding house was closing, and I thought it couldn’t be right,” she said.

Mrs Ditchfield, who is based in Coonamble, said there were few options for Georgia. “Everyone is in shock, we had absolutely no idea this was coming.”