PARENTS are battling to save a cash-strapped primary school in Wantage which has called on the local community to help it survive.

The 81-pupil Garston Lane school needs an extra £20,000 a year or 30 more pupils to save it.

These stark statistics were spelled out to more than 50 parents at a crisis meeting behind closed doors last night. School governors explained their "great reluctance" in recommending to education bosses that it should be closed down "in the interest of the education of the pupils".

They claim that on their current budget, they cannot implement the action plan demanded by Ofsted inspectors who failed the school.

Parent Maria Groves, of Foliat Drive, said after the meeting: "When we saw the Ofsted report, we didn't believe it was the same school. The children are so happy here, and the teachers are fine."

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