A THREATENED primary school described as the 'heart of the local community' has been saved from closure at the 11th hour.

Pupils at Malvern Hills Primary School looked set to lose their school for good this August after county education chiefs ruled it should shut its doors.

Jubilant parents, teachers, governors and pupils who fiercely opposed the plans were yesterday celebrating after an announcement by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator announced their campaign efforts had paid off.

Adjudicator Richard Lindley, who met with campaigners at a meeting last month rejected proposals from Worcestershire County Council and ruled the school should remain open.

Acting headteacher at the Bluebell Close school, Andrew Chilman said: "This is wonderful news for the families of children as they have been very anxious. That anxiety has now gone.

"Myself and the staff, who are all new and temporary were and are all working together to get the school off special measures, regardless of whether it was going to close.

"But this is delightful news for me as it means a great cloud has lifted from over the school and we now know we have a future to work for. It un-complicates things."

Mr Lindley concluded in his report that: "...insufficient attention had been given to the matter of alternative school places for those children who would be displaced as a result of closure and for future children from the neighbourhood of the school."

It said, despite a growing number of surplus primary school places in Malvern, there is still time for the county council to plan alternative measures before the problem becomes too serious.

Governor of almost 20 years, Di Rayner, agreed with the decision and said it was the best news she had had in years.

"It is absolutely brilliant news. It's been very, very hard for all of us over the past few months, it seems to have been going on forever.

"Right at the start I said children would have to travel too far to school and parents without cars would be stuck. That school is also the heart of our community and we would have been devastated if it was taken away.

Parent and governor, Don Brearley's fourth child is at the moment going through Malvern Primary.

He added: "I am delighted for the education of the children. One thing that got missed throughout the debate were the children and their wellbeing but this is in their interests at last and we look forward to the future."

Policy officer for schools at the county council, Alison Cartwright, said: "While we still believe our original course of action was correct, we acknowledge the decision of the adjudicator. He did say that we had gone through the correct consultation process and that we were right to look at the issue of closure.

"What has always been our primary concern is the education of the pupils currently at the school and now that it is staying open, we must work with the governors, staff and community to draw up the medium term plan identified by HM Inspectorate. The immediate concern will be to once again help the school get out of special measures."