A dispute over admissions at a Jewish primary school took a fresh turn this week with the launch of a petition calling for a vote of no confidence in the chairman and vice-chairman of governors.

Clore Shalom, a pluralist primary in Shenley, Hertfordshire was forced to change its entry criteria after the Office of Schools Adjudicator ruled its previous policy unlawful.

But parents of three children in the nursery who stand to lose a place in the reception class next year as a result of the changes argue that they did not need to be made so quickly. “They rushed it through,” said David Prever, father of four-year-old Barney, and one of the petition’s instigators.

“Now our aim is to make as much noise as possible.” He added : “We’re facing a lot of bureaucracy, but we believe that if [Education Secretary] Michael Gove were to get involved, something could be done.”

The chairman of governors, Irene Blaston, said: “Our priority is to keep the school legal while doing the very best we can for every child.”

She insisted that, on the advice given to the school, it could not have introduced the changes in admissions at a later date. “I know I’ve got the support of the governing body”, she said.