A £6,000-a-year private school in Bolton moved into a former pub without permission from education chiefs, it has emerged

Lord's Independent School moved into the listed formed Broklyn Hotel public house in Great Lever in around four months ago.

But it has since been revealed that school bosses failed to get the go-ahead from the Department for Education (DfE).

A report published by the schools watchdog Ofsted found the new building is suitable for lessons.

School leaders told inspectors they moved from their former site ­— Enterprise House in Chorley Old Road ­— because of the deteriorating condition of the building and because their lease was running out.

The report ­— published in December ­following an inspection in November — said the change of premises was unlikely to have an effect on pupils' education.

Mark Quinn, lead inspector, said in his report: "The Department for Education commissioned Ofsted to carry out this inspection because the proprietor applied to make a ‘material change’ to the school’s registration.

"The proprietor applied to move the entire school to new premises.

"This material change has already been implemented without the consent of the DfE.

"Leaders stated that the deteriorating condition of the previous premises and the imminent expiry of the lease on the building were the reasons for moving without permission."

"If the material change is granted by the DfE, it is unlikely to have a detrimental effect on the educational provision at the school."

The report revealed there are currently 48 pupils at the school aged 7 to 18.

There is room for around 70 youngsters at the new building.

There are three full-time teaching staff and five part-time.

Fees range from £4,200 to £6,600 a year.

Headteacher and owner Anne Ainsworth has spent close to £90,000 transforming the building into a school.

Lord's Independent School retained its 'good' rating as part of the 'material change' inspection.

Mrs Ainsworth has taught at Lord's for the past 20 years and owned the school for 12.

Listed building consent and change of use applications for The Brooklyn Hotel, in Green Lane, Great Lever were both approved by planning officers in October last year.

The school is leasing the building and surrounding land from Wigan-based company KYK Holdings, who bought the pub after it closed in May 2019.