PARENTS are celebrating after an ‘adored’ Catholic school was saved from the threat of closure.

Campaigners had raised a 1,400 signature petition after school governors decided to consult over the future of St Thomas More RC Voluntary Aided Primary School, in Belmont, Durham,

City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy, who supported the parents, welcomed the decision by the governing board not to press ahead with a statutory public notice, that would almost certainly have resulted in the closure of the popular primary school in August 2021.

This follows a public consultation over the future of the school, which closed on October 19.

The school had has been under threat of closure because of a forecast deficit budget of £103,000.

But governors have now said in a statement that the school “is committed to working with the local authority to find ways of addressing the financial situation that do not result in the closure of the school".

Over the last four weeks, Ms Kelly Foy had met with representatives of the diocese and the governing body, Durham County Council officers and elected officials, parents and the local community to listen to concerns and to help find a way to resolve the situation.

St Thomas More School has an excellent reputation in the local community, is rated good by Ofsted and has SATs results that puts the school in the top 1 per cent in the county.

A petition started by parents said"our children adore their school, their dedicated and compassionate teachers and their school family”.

Ms Kelly Foy said: “I was really delighted to hear that the governing body at St Thomas More School, Belmont have decided to explore options other than closure.

"I know that parents and other people in the local community will be extremely relieved and I’d like to thank them both for their contributions to the consultation and efforts to highlight their concerns with the diocese, the council and with myself.

"It has been obvious throughout how much they value the school and I hope and expect that St Thomas More School has a bright, long term future.

A number of parents at the school have spoken of their relief at the decision.

Mary Caroll said: “This is such wonderful news for our parents and children. I’m so, so happy and overwhelmed by how many people responded to the consultation.

"Everyone that has been involved can see how much our school means, not only to us, but to our community.”

Rachel Leonard said: “I am absolutely over the moon to hear that our school will be given the chance to stay open, and that our children can continue to be part of the wonderful St Thomas More community. I know the parents are hugely keen to pull together and work with staff to ensure that the school thrives long into the future.”

Steph Dixon said: “I am so pleased and relieved at the outcome. St. Thomas More is a wonderful school at the heart of our community and as the responses to the consultation show, it’s well and truly valued. It’s great to see how parents and the wider community have come together and supported St. Thomas More. Now we’ve been given this opportunity I feel sure that the school can go from strength to strength.”

Caroline Atkinson said: "We are all absolutely delighted. It is a huge weight off our shoulders, especially with the current climate.

"Mary Kelly Foy was amazing. She was so supportive and did so much work highlighting it."

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said it fully supported school's governing board's not to proceed to statutory public notice.

A statement said: " The responses to the consultation clearly show the high regard that the parents and the community have for this Catholic school.

"The Diocese is committed to working with the governing body of St Thomas More RCVA Primary School and with Durham County Council to explore ways in which the school can become financially viable so that the provision of Catholic education can continue in this area of Durham."