Teachers and governors at a Shropshire school earmarked for closure are appealing against the decision.

County councillors have decided to close Childs Ercall Church of England School.

Yesterday’s decision to shut the school, near Market Drayton, follows a consultation that started last September.

A report to the cabinet said the school, which has just 15 pupils, provides poor value for money and its closure would save more than £80,000 a year.

Now the school is appealing through the Diocese of Lichfield. Governor Peter Bosher said the appeal had been lodged with an independent schools adjudicator, whose decision can override that of the council.

“Education is an important part of our community and it should be kept here,” he said. “We accept it’s expensive, but we’ve been round and knocked on doors and we think by 2010 we could get 38 children here.

“Given five years we think we will have a very prosperous and brilliant school with 35 to 40 pupils and then it will be a real centre of the community.”

Mr Bosher said a decision was expected within weeks.

A diocese spokesman said: “Many rural schools in Shropshire – and elsewhere in the country – have low numbers but extremely high standards of education.

“The appeal by the diocese against the closure could be a test case to see how the Office of the Schools Adjudicator deals with rural school closures.”

Headteacher Heather Lane said news of the closure had hit staff and pupils hard. “I’m disappointed the cabinet made the decision to close our wonderful school,” she said.