A private school in a Shropshire village could be forced to close at the end of the summer term unless extra funding can be found. The Dower House is charity run.

The school in Quatt, near Bridgnorth, may have to shut its doors in July unless extra cash can be found to help with running costs or more pupils can be attracted.

The school and its kindergarten caters for children aged between two and 11.

Headteacher Deborah Kane today blamed the recession for a fall in pupil numbers, which has resulted in the cash crisis.

If it is forced to close 12 members of staff would lose their jobs and the 45 pupils would have to find alternative schools.

Mrs Kane said the school’s trustees had contacted parents to outline the situation. “Nothing is definite yet. We are looking at all options to keep the school open,” she added.

“The economic climate that we are in has made it very difficult for the school. Education fees are always one of the first things to be sacrificed when people are tightening their belts.

“We now have to look at other ways of raising revenue.”

Mrs Kane said parents, staff and trustees were planning to launch a campaign to raise extra cash and keep the school operating.

She said a meeting would be organised to investigate any ways of improving finances.

The school building began running as an educational establishment in the 1800s as the South East Shropshire District School.

However, it stopped taking in pupils in 1901 but it was reopened in 1982 as The Dower House.

The school became a charity managed by trustees in 2003 and in 2007 it celebrated its 25th anniversary.