THE dark cloud over Malvern Hills Primary School has lifted with news that a Government inspector has reversed a decision to shut it down.

Pupils, staff, parents and governors were left celebrating after schools adjudicator Richard Lindley rejected Worcestershire County Council's plan to close the school in August.

He said the council had not given enough attention to the need for places for existing and future pupils, particularly when new housing developments planned for Malvern were taken into account

This was a key argument the school's governors made against the closure.

Dinah Sage, chairman of governors, said they were delighted and thanked all who attended meetings and wrote letters of support.

"We're hoping to put the school on the map and make it a place to which people are proud to send their children," she said. "Standards are already rising, the school is welcoming and the children are happy."

Currently, the school's teaching staff is temporary, including acting-headteacher Andy Chilman.

The governors are meeting next week to discuss staffing arrangements for the coming year, which will include recruiting a permanent headteacher.

Parents are hoping to hold a party to celebrate the news.

Jayne Cottle, whose three daughters are pupils, said: "I'm ecstatic. It's just brilliant news and the girls are happy they don't have to go elsewhere.

"If the school had closed, I'd have taught them at home. Children thrive off stability."

Mr Chilman said his aim of bringing the school out of special measures as soon as possible remained the same.

"I think the biggest relief for myself and all the staff is the fact that this cloud that has been above our heads has eventually evaporated," he said. "We're now putting the school on a firm platform for the future."

Although Malvern Hills Primary has been saved, the inspector did identify a problem with surplus school places in Malvern.

He suggested the county council act on the governors' suggestion of reviewing primary school places in the Malvern area.

Coun Liz Eyre, county council spokesman for children's services, said: "While we still believe our original course of action was correct, we acknowledge the decision of the adjudicator. He did say that we had gone through the correct consultation process and that we were right to look at the issue of closure."

She said the council's immediate concern was to help the school get out of special measures and its cabinet would then decide whether or not to follow up the recommendation of reviewing school places across Malvern.