A THREATENED school is set to remain open until at least the end of the summer term.

It had been feared St Mary’s CE (VA) Primary School in Longdon, near Upton-upon-Severn, would close at the end of the current term.

The board of governors is seeking a public consultation to decide its future because of its falling number of pupils and will consider all options, including its closure.

The deputy head of Leigh and Bransford Primary School, Julie Wills, has been seconded to St Mary’s as acting head teacher for two terms from January 2011.

Mrs Wills said: “My job is to support the governors. I will work very hard to make it a positive outcome for the children and I’m looking forward to joining them in January.”

A spokeman for the school said: “The governors have concluded that the falling roll seriously undermines the school's ability to provide the rich educational experience that parents and children both expect and deserve.”

He added: “It is not a foregone conclusion that the school will close in the summer, although closure may ultimately prove to be in the best interest of the children concerned.”

The school, recently rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted, only has 28 pupils on its roll, with a predicted roll of 18 in September 2011. There are spaces for 105.

The decision to seek a consultation has the full support of Diocesan Board of Education and Worcestershire County Council.