A campaign group has been formed in an attempt to save a village primary school from closure.

Parents have joined forces to launch Badwell Ash Save Our School (SOS) Committee following the announcement Badwell Ash Church of England Primary School could shut.

Helen Flack, 38, who is on the committee and whose five-year-old daughter attends the school, said the group is trying to muster as much support for the campaign as possible.

Hundreds have signed a petition and people are putting their name to a letter expressing concern over the village’s future without the school. Mrs Flack said they would both be passed on to Suffolk County Council.

If governors of the school decide to propose closure following consultation, they would publish a statutory notice next month with a final decision being taken by the county council’s cabinet in September.

Mrs Flack said: “I still don’t know which way it’s going to go. If we can save the school through heart and passion we are going to save it hands down.” But she did not feel there was enough backing from some local councillors and politicians.

Parents said they had been told the school – which has 29 pupils – is not financially viable and their children are under-achieving.

David Ruffley, MP for the area, said from his own inquiries part of the reason the school roll had fallen to such a degree was because parents in the catchment area had been choosing to send their children elsewhere.

He said: “Obviously, the closure of any rural school in a village is a cause for regret. I know how the small class sizes are valued by parents.”

He added he had written to the director of education at the county council for a full briefing on what the future holds for the school following the consultation as a matter of urgency.

Badwell Ash Parish Council has pledged its support to saving the school.

To support the campaign email badwellashsos@gmail.com