A SCHOOL once on the verge of closing down has completed its journey to survival after becoming part of a new family.

Chiltern Edge Community School in Sonning Common houses more than 400 children from Reading and struggled to stay open after receiving a poor Ofsted report.

Neighbouring councillors in Oxfordshire weighed up the possibility of closing the school, but the future looks much brighter now as the school is now part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust.

Moira Green, head teacher of the newly-named Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, said: “We are looking forward to a successful future as part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust.

"The opportunities for collaboration and development will strengthen our ability to provide the very best educational experience for the children of Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge.”

Campaigners from Save Our Edge pleaded with the local authorities to keep the school open.

Students, teachers and parents all joined forces in May last year to protest against the potential closure, while Oxfordshire County Council launched a consultation on the future of the school.

The approach from the Maiden Erlegh Trust to convert Chiltern Edge into an academy gave the struggling school a lifeline.

Mary Davies, chief executive officer of the trust, said she was delighted that Chiltern Edge was joining the Maiden Erlegh community.

She added: "It represents a body of professional colleagues and bright and articulate students, who will enrich the trust and who have already shown great determination to improve.”

Chiltern Edge was rated 'Inadequate' in all areas in March 2017, with some councillors fearing that the difficulty of attracting new pupils would reduce the financial stability of the school.

The final move not to close the school came when Ofsted carried out a re-inspection last November.

Inspectors found that the school was making significant progress, which would continue to grow with the help of Maiden Erlegh Trust.

Nick Jones, chair of the trust added: “The Trust wholeheartedly welcomes Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge into our community and we are looking forward to working with all the staff, students and parents at the school to ensure that this becomes a school of choice for parents once again.”