A FAILING school is expected to be saved from closure.

Education chiefs at Oxfordshire County Council revealed the authority will not be recommended Chiltern Edge be shut down.

Politicians in Reading and community groups have rallied for the school to stay open after it was rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted following a damning inspection.

Council chiefs at OCC launched a consultation which stated the Sonning Common school could close.

But an eleventh hour bid by Maiden Erlegh Trust to convert Chiltern Edge into an academy gave the struggling school a lifeline.

Now OCC's lead member for education will not be recommending the site be shut down when the council's cabinet meet on July 18.

Councillor Tony Jones, Reading's lead member for education, said: "I’m delighted that Oxfordshire’s cabinet member for education, Hilary Hibbert-Biles, has decided not to recommend the closure of Chiltern Edge School.

“The news will come as a great relief to parents, pupils and teachers at the school who have had to live with a high degree of uncertainty over the last three months.

“The consultation held by Oxfordshire showed an enormous amount of support and affection for Chiltern Edge and I witnessed this myself during a number of public meetings I attended.

“However, we must not forget that the school still faces a number of challenges and must overcome the serious issues highlighted by Ofsted and its ongoing financial problems.

"Providing good quality education for pupils, many of whom are Reading children, must be top priority and I wish all concerned well in securing a sponsor for the school.”