You can smell the damp penetration when you go in even though the school has been cleaned.

Education and Children Minister Graham Cregeen believes the evidence is clear that St Thomas’s Church of England School is no longer fit for modern education purposes - and hasn’t been for many years.

He points out that two of the four classrooms are in mobiles located, alongside the playground, above the roofs of shops. The library is tiny and the staff room is not much larger than a cupboard.

But it his department’s solution to the problem that has caused controversy.

Some parents are unhappy that St Thomas’ will be co-locating with Scoill Vallajeelt at Saddlestone.

They fear it will lead to religious segregation and the swamping of St Thomas’ identity. Some insist it would be better to merge the two schools altogether rather than having them operate separately on a shared site.

Already 10 parents are withdrawing their children from St Thomas’ from September - but it is not known whether this is because of concerns about co-location.

Giving a tour of the old school, which was built in 1875 and extended in the 1930s, Mr Cregeen is convinced co-location is the best, indeed the only option.

He told reporters: ’The condition and suitability of this building is not fit for purpose for modern day education.

’This has been rumbling on. About 100 years ago there was a report saying it wasn’t fit for purpose. So we really do have to get on and do something about the environment that children are learning in. Somebody has got to grasp the nettle.

’We have taken the opportunity to co-locate at Vallajeelt as there is capacity up there for the number of children from St Thomas’ to move up there and still have the capacity for Vallajeelt to grow.’

It is estimated there will be 70 children on the St Thomas’ school roll this September. Scooil Vallajeelt, meanwhile, has capacity for 350 but will have just 205 on the roll at the start of the school year.

The Minister admits he is perplexed at the concerns about segregation. But he said that in September the department will be bringing the parents up to Vallajeelt to discuss - ’and hopefully alleviate’ - their concerns.

Education officials say they are determined to make co-location work.

And Caroline Savin, school improvement adviser, believes there will be benefits to education from the new arrangement, by sharing ideas and resources. ’Schools working together will benefit teachers’ personal development too,’ she added.

She said: ’Some parents are worried they are going to be swamped or lose the Christian ethos. We are very clear the schools will keep their separate identities and separate staff.’

Children from the two schools will be having lunch time and playtime together.

Ms Savin said the department was looking at the possibility of arranging transport from St Thomas’ to the new school site and even the suggestion of staggering opening and closing times to address concerns about congestion during the school run.