A legal challenge to a decision by the Government to close Phillipstown School in Christchurch will be heard in the High Court in late September.
The school is seeking a declaration that the move to close and merge it with Woolston School from the beginning of next year is in breach of the Education Act.
The board of trustees says the school serves a low socio-economic community and the safety and wellbeing of many children will be at risk if the merger goes ahead.
