A primary school is turning to God to restore its reputation after Ofsted branded it inadequate.

King Athelstan Primary School will enter a two-year loose partnership with St John’s Primary School in September, with a consultation on permanent Christian faith school status to start within six months.

If approved, there would be no community primary school left south of Kingston town centre.

The move has split opinion among parents.

Vicki Jones, whose daughter attends King Athelstan’s nursery, said: “I know parents who have put King Athelstan down as a first choice because it’s a community school. You risk parents who want their children to go to community schools being alienated."

Councillor Liz Green, executive member for education, said she was an atheist but could support King Athelstan changing status.

She said: “It has had a poor reputation and struggled to be satisfactory for 20 years. If they [the children] get a better education that’s worth me going against my principle as that’s much more important.”

Ofsted gave the Villiers Road school notice to improve last October, and its performance has improved since.

If the school moves to voluntary controlled status, the church would appoint some governors, but the council would still set admissions criteria and employ staff.

The council said soft federation would improve consistency of teaching, and the schools would share resources.

Jeremy Rodell, chairman of South West London Humanists, said: “The most important thing is King Athelstan becomes a school where children will flourish – and improved leadership can make all the difference.

“That has nothing to do with religion, but if the best available way to achieve it in this case is a soft federation with the Church of England, then so be it.”