MP backs school campaign

Mr Baker attended Assembly at the school on Friday and afterwards had coffee with parents and staff. He said closure of St Anne's would be a tragedy, and he is writing to East Sussex County Council to object. And Cllr Chartier has already spoken on St Anne's behalf to the local education authority.

Falling pupil numbers are being blamed for the planned closure in 2007. But parent-governor Julie Champion said the school had been deliberately run-down. St Anne's has until now taken children with learning and physical disabilities from the age of four, but she said her son, who is six and a half, is now the youngest in the school as no new younger children have been admitted in the last three years.

'We have lots of evidence that they are not letting small children in,' Mrs Champion said. 'Nor are they allowing in other year groups, yet there are no other places in the county for these children. This makes a mockery of the claim that we are not needed.'

Mrs Champion said that the campaign is stepping up as April 15 approaches. On this date the independent Schools Organisation Committee meets to consider the future of the school. Supporters will be speaking at the meeting and hoping to persuade the committee of the viability of St Anne's.

The committee's decision has to be unanimous, or the matter goes to a single adjudicator.

l Currently there are 76 pupils at St Anne's, and 16 members of staff. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.