CHILLERTON's Parish Council wants its village primary school to be taken away from the federation which manages it, to save it from closure.

In response to an informal consultation about the potential closure of the village school to merge it with Stenbury Foundation's other school at Godshill, Chillerton and Gatcombe Parish Council (GCPC) unanimously voted in favour of supporting the Save Our School campaign to keep the school in the village.

The two schools are proposed to be amalgamated with the Chillerton site closing, in a move governors say would reduce the risk of both schools closing, due to budget constraints and falling pupil numbers.

No official decision has been made yet about the future of the schools but consultation is under way.

At an extraordinary meeting of the GCPC held last month, councillors agreed to formally respond to the consultation as well as apply to make the school an asset of community value.

At a meeting earlier this week, councillors criticised the management of the school by the Stenbury Federation, saying education standards had fallen with the number of pupils 'consistently declining'.

Chair Cllr Nigel Phillips said:

"Rather than effectively closing the school and sending pupils to Godshill, which is similarly challenged and managed by Stenbury, we believe the way forward is to take the management of the school away from the Federation."

GCPC also agreed a new governing body should be established, dedicated solely to the wellbeing of Chillerton school and its pupils.

A marketing campaign was also suggested by the GCPC to be undertaken, showing the benefits of attending a local school for the parents in the area and others wishing for a rural education for their children.

Cllr Steve Hastings, the Isle of Wight Council ward representative, said he thought it was a real shame the school was in the position it was.

Views on the consultation can be submitted until March 19 to SandLBusinessSupport@IOW.gov.uk.