Another church school could open up on the site of St Andrew’s Church of England High School in Croydon if it closes completely in 2020.

Responses to the first stage of a consultation on plans to close the troubled Waddon school have now been revealed.

Last summer it was announced that the school would no longer offer places for Year 7-9 pupils.

And in March the school announced that it could make the “difficult decision” to close completely in 2020 following a decline in admissions meaning the school can no longer offer the full curriculum.

The voluntary-aided school in Warrington Road is part of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education’s provision in the borough.

New church school?

A first stage of consultation closed at the end of April and the results of this have now been published.

Of the 145 responses 48 were from a Croydon Christian group – St Mark’s group – regarding a proposal for St Mark’s School on the site.

And the Diocese of Southwark has revealed there was also the idea of using the site for the expansion of Archbishop Tenison’s School in Purley.

But the governors at Archbishop Tenison’s have decided not to go ahead with the proposed expansion.

The report said: “The Southwark Diocesan Board is mindful of the strong support from Croydon Christians/the St Mark’s group, in continuing to look for alternatives for church school places using the site.”

And the results show that 73% of the respondents said they did not support the proposed closure of the school.

But 40% of these people expressed support for another school opening on the site.

Reasons for not supporting the closure included there not being enough church school places in the borough and reducing the choice of schools for parents.

Now a second stage of consultation on whether to close the school has opened.

This is the formal consultation, known as the representation period, and will be open until July 25.

After the closing date responses will be analysed before a report goes to Croydon Council’s cabinet for a decision on the proposed closure of the school.

Both the council and the Diocese of Southwark support plans for the full closure of the school.

To take part in the consultation visit www.croydon.gov.uk/standrews2020