PARENTS and governors from St Aidan's CE Primary School in Clock Face, have vowed to battle on in their fight to save the school despite a decision by the Executive Committee of St Helens Council to propose its closure.

At a meeting last week the Executive Committee cited a "dramatically declining pupil population" in the borough as the key reason behind the decision.

But defiant campaigners claim there is a real need for a Church of England school in Clock Face village and that this is backed up by a significant increase in Church of England baptisms from the surrounding area. They also point to new housing developments in Clock Face which are likely to result in potential pupils living in the area.

Chair of Governors at St Aidan's, Reverend Martin Thorpe, said: "We are disappointed by this decision, but not surprised. However, this is a long way from being the final decision about the school's future.

"Even if the full council ratify this decision on October 31, we believe that our arguments about St Aidan's being realistically the only Church of England school for local parents, and the excellent standards and value for money provided by the school, will carry more weight with the School's Organisation Committee when they meet to decide the school's future next year.

A council statement said: "The birth rate in the borough has dropped by 16 per cent in recent years, and during the 1990s, 20 primary schools were lost to the education service because there are not enough pupils to maintain the number of schools in St Helens.

"St Aidan's has seen a 19 per cent decline in its roll in three years, and the whole of the Sutton area is seeing a reduction in its pupil numbers."

St Helens Council will now publish statutory notices stating its intention to cease to maintain the school with effect from August 31, 2002.