A Saturday school which offers places to as many as 75 pupils has been forced out of its home after the rent "escalated beyond belief" .

Burnt Oak Junior School in Burnt Oak Lane, has leased its classrooms to Stanton Saturday School for the last seven years.

This changed when the school was given Academy status at the end of the summer, and increased the rent from £140 to £200 - a hike of 42 per cent.

The academy offered to phase the increase over nine months, beginning with 14 per cent in January, but

Paul Stanton - who founded the Saturday school with the help of his wife, Julie, 23 years ago - said he simply couldn't afford to pay it.

The 58-year-old told News Shopper he received a letter from the academy's new executive headmaster, Lee Mason-Ellis, at the end of November, saying rent would be increased.

Mr Stanton, who had met Mr Mason-Ellis only once before, said: "He told us he couldn't meet with us, that we had to take the offer or leave it. 

"He gave us an ultimatum. 

"I think it's shoddy, it's not the way to treat people.

"The only compromise he was willing to reach was to increase the rent by £20 in January, £20 in Easter and £20 in September."

Stanton Saturday School offers classes in English, maths and verbal and non-verbal reasoning to between 50 and 75 pupils aged five to 16, employing 12 fully qualified teachers and five teaching assistants.

It is a previous winner of the Bexley Business Award and Solotec Achievers Award.

This Is Local London:

Paul and Julie Stanton with the Bexley Business Award in 1995

Mr Stanton, of Ramillies Road, Sidcup added: "Their only interest is in making money. The rent has escalated beyond belief."

The Saturday school is now in the process of moving to another location.

A joint statement from Doug Robinson, chair of governors at Burnt Oak Junior School and Mr Mason-Ellis said: "Governors recognised that by introducing equitable charging across its lettings it would mean Saturday School would face a steep rise.  

"As a valued and longstanding let, Mr Stanton was offered a phased and discounted increase over a nine-month timescale - which equates to £20 per week or 14 per cent in January. 

"Regrettably, he has chosen to terminate his let with us."