A SCHOOL faces an anxious wait while its future is decided.

The Chetwood School, in South Woodham Ferrers, has still not received the independent school adjudicator’s decision on its appeal against closure.

It was originally thought the choice would have been made by June Brown, who heard parents, staff and councillors’ thoughts at a meeting last month.

But the school has been told the evidence for and against closure still has to be fully accessed before a decision can be taken, then it must be double-checked by the school adjudicator’s legal team.

Sharon Hutton-Mayson, chairman of governors, explained the late decision had strained an already difficult situation, although she remained hopeful for a good verdict.

She said: “It’s not a satisfactory to treat parents or staff like that. Everyone is watching this space.

“People who are starting at a new school in September are hanging by a string, There’s a lot of people who desperately want to come to Chetwood and they need to know what we’re doing.

“I have prepared letters and have a list of everyone’s phone numbers and a team of governors will be ringing the day the decision comes in. That’s all we can do.

“The adjudicator is obviously doing a thorough job and I’m still optimistic about it.”

Essex County Council chose to close the school at a cabinet meeting earlier this year, claiming a projected drop in the birthrate and the low number of pupils on its roll meant it had to close.

Councillor Simon Walsh, who looks after schools, children and families in the county, said: “The council had hoped the adjudicator would have reached a decision before the end of term.

“However, this is a major decision and it’s only right that all the evidence is given thorough consideration before a verdict is reached.”