If plans to restructure the education system in the Rother Valley are given the go ahead the school could be shut down by 2010.

The news has come as a shock to those involved with the school and chairman of governors Paul Hardwick, who also has two daughters at the school, said no-one expected such a proposal.

"This came completely out of the blue," he said. "We are just devastated and the feeling among the parents is disbelief. This is one of the heaviest blows the village could suffer."

The recommendations for schooling in the Rother Valley, put forward by West Sussex County Council, also includes the amalgamation of Rake Primary School and Hollycombe Primary School, as well as the paring of other schools around Midhurst.

The county council cites falling roll numbers as the main reason for change. Rogate Primary School has 41 children attending but that figure has risen by more than 10 per cent in the last year and is predicted to grow further in the future.

Mr Hardwick said he could not understand the council's rationale for the move.

"This is the perfect primary school. We have a swimming pool, a fantastic ICT suite, a great playground, a hygiene unit for the disabled, we work within budget, have great teachers, recently had a fantastic Ofsted report and the children love it. Why on earth would you want to close it? It is senseless and it will tear the heart out of the community."

Jenny Chapman, headteacher, said morale among staff remained high after the news was broken to them last Tuesday afternoon.

"The teachers are determined to fight this, we're united about that," she said. "And we are not surprised to see the parents are supporting us wholeheartedly as well.

"Despite this potential bodyblow the staff have been totally professional. Our main aim is to educate the children, that's what we're here for and that's what we will continue to do."

A six-week consultation process will now be held into the issue, finishing on April 8, and a final decision is expected to be made in September.

Mr Hardwick said: "The key thing is that the recommendation can be changed and we will be lobbying hard to get that changed – we will be lobbying hard at all levels."

Colin James, West Sussex County Council's head of resources for children and young people' services, said the schools at Rogate, South Harting, Rake and Hollycombe are all operating below capacity.

"At the moment we have four schools offering too many places across this area," he said.