Parents of children at the troubled Christ's School have vowed to take legal action if it closes.

And they plan to picket a meeting of the school's governors on September 10 to protest against moves to close the school down for a year.

The Richmond school has 185 pupils from Wandsworth on its roll. Parents claim it is the only place their children can get a Church of England secondary education in the area.

The school's governors say falling standards mean closing Christ's next year and reopening it in 2000 in a new building may be the only way to halt falling standards.

But parents say moving children to a different school will cause unnecessary disruption, especially for those in the middle of GCSE courses.

Now, as well as possible legal action and picketing next month's meeting, they are holding a letter-writing campaign and organising a prayer meeting and candle-lit vigil outside the school's foundation church, St Mary's in Richmond, on September 6.

Wandsworth Council has backed their calls for Christ's to stay open.

Chairman of the PTA, Susie Jones urged parents to seek legal aid at their nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.

Parents argue proper guidelines about consultation have not been followed by education authority Richmond Council.

But governors say a final decision has not yet been made about the closure, and that September's meeting is being held to discuss plans further.

Monica Read from Wandsworth, who has a 12-year-old daughter at the school, says she is not convinced. "If you read between the lines they're intending to shut it," she said.

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