PARENTS fighting for Basingstoke's arson-hit Beechdown Primary School to be rebuilt on the same site have accused county council bosses of disrupting their children's lives while they decide its future.

At a consultation meeting held on Tuesday at Bishop Challoner School, officers revealed that a final decision on the fate of the school would be made by next Autumn.

Assurances were given that, whatever the outcome, Beechdown would remain open on the present site for at least another two years.

Some of the options that are being considered include rebuilding the school at the Beggarwood Lane development or closing it altogether.

Sam Moulder, of Brighton Hill, said he was now trying to find another school for his four children because of the uncertainty.

"I basically think you're just trying to kill the school," he told the officials. "You are psychologically screwing up my kids' education."

Other parents at the meeting also voiced their concerns about the effect that the uncertainty over the school's future is having on their children.

Chris Holt, county education officer, said: "I don't think the school is going down the pan. We have to continue."

He added that the county council would take into consideration the performance of the school and surplus pupil places in making a final decision on Beechdown's fate.

Mr Holt admitted Beechdown's future would not be in jeopardy at the moment if it had not been badly damaged by fire last year.

Parents raised concerns about possibly having to get their children to a school further away, separating them from their friends, larger class sizes, and the cost of buying new school uniforms.

After a lengthy question and answer session, it was decided that the favoured option of those at the meeting was to rebuild Beechdown with early years provision on the same site to a capacity that's required.

There would be a minimum of 210 places and a maximum of 300.