Village school may face closure

A small Shropshire village school is facing closure next summer because of falling pupil numbers, it was revealed today.

The number of children registered at Childs Ercall CE Primary fell below the 20-pupil threshold earlier this year, triggering a review by county council education chiefs.

Next week the council cabinet will be asked to decide whether to proceed to a formal consultation with parents, staff and governors over closing the school.

If it does close, it is expected that pupils will go mainly to Hinstock Primary, about 2.8 miles away. All children will be guaranteed a place there if they wish one.

The council will also make "every effort" to ensure that no staff are made redundant.

Cabinet members will hear next Wednesday that pupil numbers have been around the 20 mark for several years and have dipped below the trigger level for short periods in the past.

However the number of children in the school early this year was only 17 and the forecast numbers from this month to July 2011, show that in only one year - 2009/10 - will the figure rise above 20.

"In parallel with the reduction in pupil numbers, there has been a reduction in the percentage of pupils living in the catchment area of the school who attend the school," says a report.

"This trend is believed to be because many parents want their children to both socialise and be educated with larger groups of children of their own age."