A MUCH loved and high-performing Church of England school in Farnham could be set to close, after the Diocese of Guildford spurned a merger with the South Farnham academy.

St Andrew’s Infant School, which opened in 1860, has been threatened by closure for a number of years as a victim of the Government’s drive towards academy and all-though primary schools.

However, the threat has intensified this winter, with just eight children reportedly in-line to join the infant school’s new reception class next September - 22 fewer than is required to make it viable in the long-term.

And in a heated meeting with parents last Wednesday, Surrey County Council announced its intention to launch a consultation in the new year asking for views on the future of the school and its potential closure.

A number of factors have contributed to St Andrew’s current difficulties, not least an unexpected slump in the number of reception year admissions that has left many schools in the Farnham area undersubscribed this year.

But St Andrew’s has the added problem of lacking a long-term ‘feeder school’ relationship with a junior school, leaving parents of prospective pupils unsure where their children will move on to after graduating from year three.

South Farnham School, which has historically offered an onward route for St Andrew’s children, has offered a solution - proposing to amalgamate the Church of England school into its academy trust, thus safeguarding St Andrew’s future.

However, the Diocese of Guildford has rejected this offer - expressing concern that South Farnham would not uphold the “Anglican character” of the school.

This decision has angered St Andrew’s parents, some of whom have subsequently formed the Save St Andrew’s Campaign, while a petition to save St Andrew’s has amassed more than 1,000 signatures within a week of ‘going live’ online at www.change.org.

A spokesman for the Save St Andrew’s Campaign told The Herald: “The news [of St Andrew’s potential closure] left many in tears and angry that the 150-year-old school rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted might cease to exist.

“However the school is too precious to those whose children attend and have in the past, not to fight for.

“The Church of England infant school had hoped that Guildford Diocese would agree to joining the highly regarded South Farnham Junior School, as part of an academy. It’s where historically St Andrew’s children go and would end years of uncertainty for parents.

“But the diocese, who regard St Andrew’s as ‘the jewel in their crown’, felt this wasn’t a good partnership, a decision that left many dismayed and heartbroken as to what it meant for St Andrew’s.”

South Farnham reportedly offered a “watertight legal agreement” that if St Andrew’s joined the academy, it would retain all of its attributes as a Church of England school.

But still the diocese rejected the offer, further blaming the academy for “de-stabilising” infant schools in the area by expanding its intake at its infant site in The Bourne last year.

Explaining its decision in a statement, a spokesman for the diocese said: “The Guildford Diocesan Board of Education considered very carefully an offer for St Andrew’s to join the South Farnham Educational Trust, a multi-academy trust.

“While recognising the strengths of the trust, the board decided that the distinct Christian character of St Andrew’s would not be guaranteed in the long term were the school to join the academy.

“The diocese continues to explore options for St Andrew’s, and is in discussion with parent representatives as we seek a way forward. A number of options are being considered.

“We know that parents don’t want St Andrew’s to close, and many have already been in contact to indicate their support and commitment going forward.

“We encourage current parents to maintain confidence in the school and prospective parents to name St Andrew’s as the school of their choice. This commitment will provide the strongest possible footing for a sustainable solution for St Andrew’s.”

St Andrew’s chairman of governors, Chris Hyland, has also objected to the school’s potential closure and called on the diocese to remove the “lack of clarity” surrounding the future of St Andrew’s, which he feels has contributed to its poor admissions for next September.

Mr Hyland told The Herald: “After the second of last week’s two meetings with parents I went and sat on my own in the staff room and just burst into tears. For a school that is 155 years old, that is so highly regarded and loved by so many, the prospect of contemplating the school’s closure is heart-breaking for all those connected with the school.”

He added the school’s governors have been working since 2010 to try and avoid the situation the school now find itself in, and urged parents considering sending their children to St Andrew’s to still apply for a place in the hope a solution can be found.