Children at a tiny village school left with just one teacher are urging the public to help save them from possible closure.
Lerryn Church of England Primary School and Nursery in Cornwall teaches 22 pupils with two main teachers who are both leaving at the end of this academic year.
But a lack of funds means that the Trust running the school is only able to replace one - meaning that from September there will be just one teacher for the whole of Reception to Year 6.
Parents and local villagers in Lerryn are now trying to find £40,000 in the hopes of funding a second teacher, as youngsters issue a sweet, heartfelt plea for help.
The school's association secretary Allyce Ayling, who two children Loch, eight, and Lerryn, six, both attend, told the Mirror that parents were incredibly concerned after its Trust - the St Barnabus Multi-Academy Trust confirmed it would be merging the upper and lowers years into one big class.
”We had heard rumours about the situation after the last half term that left many of us concerned,” said Ms Ayling, 35.
Later meetings with school staff and the Trust confirmed that only one of the two departing teachers could be replaced.
”[The Trust] told us there is no funding, basically. They had been trying to secure more but we would need to find it ourselves. So now that's what we're doing.”
Allyce added: ”From September we should have 22 pupils. It's a very small school - we fluctuate from the high thirties.”
The mum-of two, whose children are currently in Years 3 and 1 respectively, said most of the parents were worried about how one teacher will be able to meet the needs of children aged between four and 11 all at once, as well as those with extra educational needs.
”I'm sure whoever they hire will be a wonderful teacher," she said. "But it's an awful stretch to teach kids only just learning to read while also preparing Year 6's for their SATs.”
Currently there are two teaching assistants at Lerryn, but there are also worries about what will happen in emergencies such as staff illness or a bereavement.
Association Chair Katrine Musgrave said the school was "small but mighty", but that the lack of funds could spell the end for the school.
“We’re worried, this will mean the eventual closure of the school,” Ms Musgrave said. ”And we have to raise the money in a matter of weeks if we hope to maintain the current level of education.”
Sean Powers, CEO of St Barnabus MAT, said the Trust had no intention to close the school, but that the new structure would help them to save £309,000 from its annual budgets.
"Although these savings relate to only 3.1% of our total annual budgets, we understand and sympathise with people's concerns at this difficult time," said Mr Powers.
A spokesperson for the trust said: "These savings may result in the mixing of year groups into larger classes in some of the trust's smaller schools. There is no intention of closing any school.
"It is anticipated that even with the mixing of groups, class sizes will still not exceed national averages."
You can donate to the village's JustGiving page for the teacher here.
