An East End school with deep-rooted links to the history and culture of its area has declared itself in a battle for survival under reforms to public education.

Advocates for St David’s Primary School vowed to go on the offensive after the facility, which dates back to 1893, was earmarked for closure.

At a public meeting called by its parent-teacher association meeting last night, Kelly Pitcher, the PTA president, said she had told assessors of the school: “Our face is not going to be erased when it comes to our history and our culture.”

The meeting followed a presentation to the Ministry of Education’s school scoring team on the school’s legacy.

Carlton Crockwell, another member of the presentation group, added: “We are ready now to put together a St David’s campaign to save our school.

“We have made our point. Now we are looking for people to serve and work with us on this campaign.”

A petition, said to have more than 1,000 signatures, is to be circulated for Good Friday at the adjacent St David’s Cricket Club, a popular venue for the public holiday.

Audience members called for a more public stance, with area MP Lovitta Foggo of the Progressive Labour Party telling the meeting: “You have to be more vocal.

“Go out, knock on doors and tell your neighbours. We need to come together.”

The meeting heard that St David’s Primary, with its small student to teacher ratio and close involvement of teachers and parents, was “a model school” for the reforms envisaged.

Dr Crockwell said relocating the students would cause transportation chaos for parents.

He and Ms Pitcher said assessors had downgraded the school based on its lack of a preschool, but seemed unaware that one was already in place on the premises.

They also highlighted its open space for expansion.

St David’s Primary is among 15 of the island’s 18 public primary schools that are being rescored under the Ministry of Education’s assessment.

Initially, a decision on school closures was to be issued by the end of this month.

Most recently the Ministry of Education said it had been delayed until mid-April.

Audience members invoked the example of the West End Warriors, who have run a highly public campaign against the closure of West End Primary School in Somerset.

Elizabeth Deacon, the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for St George’s South, said the meeting showed St David’s Islanders’ love for a school that had been “completely central to this community”.

She highlighted: “I don’t think a lot of people realise the extent of its history and how important it is to people here.”

Ms Deacon said the Government had to “take more than just a narrow, brick-and-mortar approach to school closures”.

“This is about saving a community, not just a school.”

She said she would “fight alongside the St David’s community” to oppose its closure.