IT IS a crunch week for St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School in Inchbrook, with a planned meeting this week determining whether the school will close at the end of this academic year.

The school, which has been in existence for 135 years, was rated as 'inadequate' by Ofsted in July.

But staff and parents say that the Ofsted report only tells part of the story and that the school is well on track to gain an improved rating.

"The levels of attainment at the end of Year 6 were broadly similar to other schools in the area and above the national average," said Dr Russell Davies, a member of the school's PTA.

"And the Ofsted report itself recognised that the interim leaders' actions are improving teaching and learning quickly and the new governors have a clear vision for the school.

"Teachers and staff are continuing to provide a warm and welcoming place to study with students of many nationalities at the school."

Dr Davies said that other local schools are already fully subscribed with waiting lists, and that due to their village locations, they have limited or no potential to expand their buildings to increase in size.

"What we really require is a plan that will take the school up to the next potential Ofsted inspection, when the current plans for the school have been fully implemented," he said.

"At that stage, we would expect an improved rating that can then take the school from strength to strength."

Parents, staff and governors will meet on Thursday from 6pm to 7pm to discuss the future of the school.