Staines infant school to close down

An on-line petition has been created by a mother of children who attend the school, and other parents are concerned that their children will not get into other places if it is closed.

Abbey Tewari, whose son Harvey, aged five, attends the school, said: "I think it will be very difficult for him to find a place, because I have rung a few schools already and they have said they are full. It will also be hard because he will have to go to a new school and make new friends."

Laura Bunting, of nearby Shortwood Avenue has one child in the reception class at the school, one in a Playbox nursery group at the school, and another who was due to join the nursery at Easter.

She has created an on-line petition to try and keep the school from closing, and is urging as many people as possible to sign it.

She said: "I have been told by the council that my child is guaranteed another place at a school, but I have rung three and they say they are all busy.

"I feel very let down by this, I chose to send my children there because it is a small village school, and I think the council have taken away our right to choose the best education for our children."

Ian Winter, chair of the governors, said there has been a threat of closure for the past 15 years, and thinks it is to do with declining intake numbers.

He said: "But the school offers a unique education experience. It is small and pastoral, we are in no financial danger and have a good Ofsted report, and it is over 100 years old so will be terrible if it closes."

A spokeswoman for Surrey County Council was not available for comment at the time of going to press.