School closing down - gutted -what next?

[LidlshopwithWaitrosebags]

I realise this is happening up and down the country at the moment.

Dc's independent school has announced that due to falling numbers they will be closing at the end of the summer term. We are all naturally very upset.
The parents have grouped together and are trying to see if anything can be done to rescue the school, and have asked us to hold fire before looking for places at alternative schools.
But I'm worried that delaying looking for a new school will mean I will be rushed into taking whatever I can find, and want to start looking now, but feel disloyal to the school and the other parents,
But being blunt, we will all be competing for the same places if the school cannot be rescued.
I'm not that optimistic about the chances of the school being saved, so don't want to sacrifice the chance to choose from places remaining at other local schools.
Has anyone else any experience of this that can advise me?

Thanks for everyone's advice. After letting it sink in, we have decided to look at other schools, and have made appointments for a tour around several. Turns out we are not the only ones! Each school said they had taken a lot of enquiries. So you were all right about that! I don't feel quite so much like the lone waverer now.
After lots of initial fighting spirit, after the weekend, lots of parents now are saying they aren't as optimistic about the schools future as the facts are becoming clearer on the financials.
I'm trying to make it sound like a new adventure for the dc's, who like that idea, and don't seem too worried, as long as I keep a happy face on.
It is starting to feel as though it will end in a mad scramble for places, so I'm glad Ive decided to take some action now.

Glad that you have some options open to you. I hope that you find something suitable. It may very well be a scramble, so make sure that you have asked each school about places available and their criteria for filling them asap. When we jumped ship we didn't bother with the tour until after our dc had sat the entrance paper. No point in touring if you can't get a place!

Well done for making a start and very best wishes for your quest. I'm glad to hear your dc are feeling positive too - it occurred to me after my last post that perhaps having all that extra time was a mixed blessing as it gives a longer period of uncertainty.

Sounds hard OP, and hope you find another good school for your DCs.

Have started a thread about how parents can assess the risk of this kind of thing happening (entitled something like financial viability of private primary schools) in the primary education section.