FARNHAM Town Council has vowed to help keep St Andrew’s School in Farnham open, as staff and parents continue their battle against the threat of closure after a drop in the number of admissions to its September 2016 reception class.

Farnham resident Janet Elliot asked members at the January full council meeting to do all they can to ensure funding is provided to keep the Church of England infant school open for the good of the current and future parents and pupils.

It comes after the Diocese of Guildford’s board of education staved off the immediate threat of closure in January by agreeing emergency funding to cover any costs of staffing St Andrew’s reception class for 2016/17 not covered by formula funding.

The Mayor of Farnham, Pat Frost, said: “I have been working with Surrey County Council to ensure the school remains open, and the school is remaining open at the moment due to extra funding by the diocese.

“At this moment in time we have a surplus of places in Farnham and not enough children, which is quite unusual for this area and therefore we will do everything we can to ensure that the school remains open.

“We are grateful for the diocese for providing the additional funding this year to make the school viable despite its lack of pupils. We will continue to work hard and I am just grateful that its remaining open for this current year.”