PARENTS and school governors in Chale are staging a last-ditch attempt to save their village primary from closure.
On Tuesday, the school passed the final deadline it was given by the Isle of Wight Council to try to find a partner school to federate with.
However, school governors claim that despite drawing up a proposal, which could have seen Chale federate with the proposed new primary school at Godshill, council education bosses have blocked the move.
Governors also alleged council officers had advised other schools not to enter any agreement with Chale — a claim strongly denied by council education bosses.
Chairman of governors Alan Lock told the County Press: "The reality is, they have not actually made a single concession in the two years we have been fighting closure. They are still using the tired arguments of two years ago and have not listened to a single thing we have put forward."
Meanwhile, Portsmouth Diocese has pledged to help the school fight on against the closure plans if the decision goes against the school.
Isle of Wight Council leader Cllr David Pugh said the proposal to federate with the new Godshill school would be looked at but was not likely to be viable or be in line with council policy.
He said: "The governing body for the new rural primary school has yet to be established and the Isle of Wight Council is unable to pre-empt the view of that governing body as to whether they would be prepared to enter such a federation.
"We strongly refute suggestions the Isle of Wight Council has moved the goal posts and advised schools not to enter into any agreement with Chale. These claims are completely without foundation."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk