Parents and pupils of a 140-year-old village primary school facing closure have today staged a protest outside Kent County Council.

Around 30 demonstrators protested outside the entrance of County Hall, Maidstone this morning.

Parent Heidi Crosby, who has a son at the Stansted Church of England Primary School, said: “We definitely aren’t going away. I’m not going to go willingly and neither will any of the other parents.

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“Our children are happy where they are and they are making excellent progress. It’s been unfairly decided to close our school.”

Families only learned of the proposed fate of the school, which has 35 pupils, a day before the new September intake figures were announced.

After being placed in special measures by Ofsted in 2013, a following inspection in December found it had not made enough progress.

However, parents have expressed shock and disappointment at the decision, after statutory test scores for Year 6 pupils increased significantly.

Video: Parents protest outside the council offices - by Jemma Collins

Lisa Morritt recently moved her daughter to the school and said she instantly noticed a change in her achievements.

“I do think it’s a good school. Before my daughter came here she was constantly sent out of class and she had no passion for education at all.

“Within a week of her being here I noticed a change in her attitude. She’s now reached levels I never thought she would and I’m proud of her and her teachers. There’s a great school here to work with.”

Roger Gough, cabinet member for education, today came out to meet the protestors and listen to their concerns.

KCC previously issued a statement agreeing that the school had not made reasonable progress, as well as expressing concern about the its ability to provide social opportunities and an effective transition to secondary school.

Director of education, Kevin Shovelton, added: “Closure of a school is the last resort and a decision that is not taken lightly.

“We’ve taken all reasonable possible steps to protect the school, but unfortunately the education provided to pupils is still not to an acceptable standard.

“No final decisions will be taken until after the consultation period when all views expressed have been considered.”

Pupils have also been offered places at other schools and a consultation period is due to end on March 6.