A fight is on to save a 500 year old rural primary school from closure.

Pott Shrigley Church School has 25 pupils and operates in a federation with Bollington St John’s CE Primary. It’s at the heart of village life, praised by parents for its quality teaching and nurturing atmosphere.

But there is trouble brewing in the community, as parents are protesting against proposals to close the historic school - which they say is one of the country’s oldest.

Governors say the school is no longer viable and asked Cheshire East to hold a public consultation on amalgamating it with Bollington St John’s.

But parents, villagers and councillors disagree, and have formed a campaign group. The council has agreed not to hold a consultation until a review of the school is carried out by a specially appointed panel of councillors.

The Govenors at Pott Shrigley School say it is no longer viable

Jane Naumkin, parent and chairman of Save Pott Shrigley School, said they will fight proposals so the consultation does not happen at all.

She said: “There are many reasons to keep the school open. It’s an outstanding school at the heart of the community and we need more school places for all the houses being built.

“If we don’t save Pott Shrigley soon we won’t have an intake next year and our school will be gone forever.

“We hope this school will thrive well into the next 500 years and are calling on our community to join us.”

Pupil numbers are down from 40 pupils three years ago to a current total of 25.

Chairman of governors and dad of two Richard Lofthouse said: “One of the main issues is the government’s new rules which say reception pupils must have continual access to outdoor space, which we can’t do at Pott Shrigley. We get money for each pupil and numbers are diminishing. We inherited a deficit of £90,000 from the previous board earlier this year and now it’s less than £20,000 but it’s still not viable.”

Melanie Walker, headteacher, said: “The decision to amalgamate was not taken lightly by the governors, but was taken with the children’s best interests at heart. But this is not a done deal. The consultation will be long and thorough process.

”But this is not a done deal. The consultation will be long and thorough process.”

The school dates back to 1492 when the Lord of the Manor gifted a building for education.

In 1951 the building was restored as a village hall and the trust which now runs the village hall leases it to the school.

The council has appointed a panel of councillors to carry out a review of Pott Shrigley School.

Cheshire East leader Rachel Bailey has appointed a panel of councillors to speak to stakeholders and do a review before a formal consultation is started.

She said: “To demonstrate our commitment to rural schools, we are setting up a cross-party panel of councillors led by coun George Hayes to enable local stakeholders to provide us with their views.

“We’re planning engagement activities with community groups and the school, including teaching staff, parents and pupils of Pott Shrigley CofE, to understand the challenges and options, to ensure sustainable, high-quality education for children and to consider opportunities to mitigate the impact on the community.

“Formal consultation will then follow. A decision on whether to amalgamate will not be taken until this has concluded.”