AN unholy row has broken out at Holy Cross Primary School, with governors, teaching staff and some parents angry at plans to split the school over two sites.

The school, run by Clifton Diocese, is building a new school on Queen’s Drive, which will initially house only the reception and Year 1 students, while older pupils will remain at the Upham Road building.

Over the next three years, the rest of the school will be moved as part of a phased relocation, but opponents say this will lead to numerous problems.

It is being argued the move will create a lot of inconvenience for parents who may have to drop children off at multiple sites, will break spirit of the school and will create a risk to teachers, and some youngsters, having to travel between the two sites throughout the day. A business plan has been developed to support their case.

The diocese, however, says it has looked at the issue and the split is in the best interest of all parties.

Chair of Governors Margaret Hryb has written to all parents to say she and the senior management team are disappointed all pupils will not stay together while all 46 members of the teaching staff, including headteacher Tony McAteer, have signed a letter voicing their concerns.

It reads: “We were very disappointed when Mr McAteer advised us about the Trustees’ decision not to allow a reopening of the consultation with the parent and local community about moving en masse to Queens Drive during summer 2015.

“We appeal to the Governors to make the Diocesan Trustess aware of our concerns and our wishes as maintaining a healthy, motivated staff team is vital in ensuring that the children receive the high quality education they deserve.”

More than 100 parents from the Goan community have also written to the diocese saying they have only recently found out about the plans because everything had been communicated in English.

But Clifton Diocese has said it has considered all the issues and says the staggered move is in the best interest of all parties and this was the plan when the school expansion was agreed with the council.

A statement reads that following a consultation: “Local schools and councillors were reported to be questioning why a faith school should be receiving public funding.

“Councillors were also concerned the original agreed plans were being changed and were suggesting the council should stop the project and reconsider the expansion plans. While there has been a request by Holy Cross governors for the Clifton Diocese and its other partners to reconsider the decision, The Diocese has reconsidered but is clear the original decision is to be upheld in the interests of all parties concerned.”

A council spokesman said: “Our only responsibility in this matter is to ensure that there are adequate primary school places in the town centre.

“We have no responsibility for how the school sites are managed as this is a matter for the Academy Trust, headed by the Diocese.”