A CLOSURE-THREATENED school may have been saved after education bosses at Essex County Council confirmed it has a sponsor for it to be turned into an academy.

St Mary’s Primary School, in Woodham Ferrers, was in the middle of a consultation over the potential closure of the site.

However, talks have continued to put the school in a sustainable position.

In a letter to parents and staff, Essex County Council director of education Clare Kershaw said: “As confirmed in my communication at the end of the summer term, and throughout the consultation period, Essex County Council and the diocese have been in discussion with numerous schools and academy trusts to find a partner organisation that could support the school to become sustainable, allowing it to remain open.

“I am now able to confirm that Berlesduna Academy Trust has agreed to be put forward as the sponsor for St Mary’s School.

“It is anticipated that the application for St Mary’s to become a sponsored academy will take place later this term, once all the due diligence has been completed by the trust, diocesan board of education and the regional school’s commissioner.

“As there could be a viable solution that would enable St Mary’s to remain open, at this time, Essex County Council will not be commencing statutory processes to close the school on August 31, 2020.

“We will continue to work with the school, the diocese, BAT and the Department for Education to achieve a positive decision from the regional schools commissioner (RSC).

“Once we have received the RSC decision, I will write to you again to confirm the outcome, and what will happen next in terms of the school’s future.”

Berlesduna Academy Trust was established in 2016 and the lead school is Merrylands Primary and Nursery in Basildon.

It also includes the Willows, Whitmore, Felmore, Fairhouse, Cherry Tree and Crays Hill primary schools.