Fears that the second oldest school in North Yorkshire is in danger of losing its identity have prompted parents and governors of Threshfield Primary School to take action against proposals to restructure education in Upper Wharfedale.

After 350 years in existence, the school may be forced to close, hand over its statutory status, its county number and name and become part of a newly-enlarged Grassington School, which will include children from the whole of Upper Wharfedale.

As previously reported, North Yorkshire County Council is reviewing the provision of primary school education in Upper Wharfedale. This could result in radical changes in the way children in the Dale are educated. But, whereas Arncliffe has just four pupils on its roll and Kettlewell a further 28, Threshfield Primary School with 92 is not considered small. The school was founded in 1674 with funds given by Matthew Hewitt, rector of the parish of Linton, and has maintained its reputation as an outstanding centre for learning with a strong family ethos and a respect for the Dales way of life. But North Yorkshire County Council has proposed two options for change.

Option one would leave Threshfield to continue as it is, while option two would see the creation of a more urban system of schooling with the 179 pupils in the whole of Upper Wharfedale educated in one newly-created primary school based at two separate sites – younger children at Grassington School and older children on the redundant Threshfield site. Threshfield parents have voted this week by an overwhelming 76 to two to keep their school open for business as usual under the first option and rejected the proposed closure under option two.

Claire Cooper, a mother of three, and chairman of the Threshfield Parent Action Group said: “The main concern is children would need to be dropped off and collected from two different sites at different times. There would be traffic chaos on small roads that struggle to accommodate the school-time traffic already. Children walking to school would also be more at risk, especially with parents rushing to try and meet two school drop-off times. It’s an accident waiting to happen. I can hardly bear to think about it.”

But parents and staff at Threshfield are also deeply worried this option will change school life. Not only will siblings be split across two locations, but children will not benefit from the family environment that encourages four-year-olds to play and learn alongside eleven-year-olds.

Threshfield resident Becky McGuinn, a mum of four, said: “My children would be at two different schools and we walk every day. How on earth will I manage to walk five-year-old twins all the way to Grassington and then my six-year-old and ten-year-old back to Threshfield? I think splitting the age groups would be a travesty. Besides, we would be closing something very special. I cannot believe it’s under threat of closure when it keeps going from strength to strength.”

In addition, trustees of the Hewitt Trust, a registered charity, who own and oversee the historic Threshfield building and playground area, would have to sign the deeds of the school over to the North Yorkshire County Council. This would mean the freehold of Threshfield School would be lost forever.

Parents fear time is running out and have a deadline of December 17 to register any representations.