Determined parents who are desperate for Penn School to remain open are hoping to get a stay of execution to prevent it from closing.

The Save Penn School campaign group, who are hoping to raise £1 million before the school closes and have set about asking celebrities for support, met on Wednesday evening to discuss their progress.

Amanda Burgess, whose son has been at the school for three years, chaired the meeting.

She said: “As a group, we agreed to keep pushing the government to get involved. We are hoping to get a stay of execution because all the children at the school have a statement of educational need and we are consulting a barrister because we want to know if they are acting legally by closing it.

“We are liaising with Deloitte closely. They understand and are sympathetic to our situation, but they are there to close a school and they are just doing their job.

“I am looking at other schools for my son but we absolutely want the school to stay open. There are some real desperate times ahead.” 

Another parent, who did not want to be named, said: "We are consulting a solicitor and trying to find out if it is lawful to give just ten days notice before closing considering their educational needs." 

The group are still pressing forward with raising funds to save the school and will be holding a stall at the Charity Business Network Family Fun Day at Missenden Abbey on Sunday. 

They are also hoping to raise funds at PennFest over the weekend. 

Meanwhile, Steve Baker MP has given an update on the situation and said he 'deeply regrets' that the school will close. 

He said: "The decision to close Penn School was taken by the Governors and Trustees after discussions with the Department of Education and Bucks County Council found no solution to enable the school to continue operating.

"It was evidently an exceptionally difficult decision to take.

"The Education Funding Agency would be content to use the remaining funds in the school to provide additional cash to local authorities to help the transition process. That should be done if at all possible.

"The wellbeing of the children and young people must be everyone’s priority in this exceptionally sad situation. Officials from the Department are now working with the local authorities representing all the students to find the best possible alternative placements for every child and young person. 

"Every effort will be made to ensure alternative and suitable schools are offered to the pupils and their parents.

"I deeply regret that Penn School is to close as a result of financial constraints following a period in special measures."

He also told how the main focus should be on finding new schools for the children.

He added: "It is a difficult and emotional time but the over-riding priority now is to focus on ensuring the best future for every pupil in alternative provision, in time for the new term."

Visit www.gofundme.com/yz86mg to donate to the Save Penn School campaign or sign the petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/688/622/376/the-closure-of-penn-school/#sign.