SIX staff are still employed at a rural Eden school that has no pupils.

Ravenstonedale Endowed School is expected to be officially closed on April 10 2015.

It follows a damning Ofsted report earlier this year which labelled the school as "inadequate".

But despite the departure of all the pupils there is still a headteacher, two part-time teaching assistants, a cook, cleaner and secretary working from the school.

The Ofsted report also detailed incidents of "racist or homophobic bullying" together with "serious instances of violence" among the pupils.

At the time of the inspection there were 13 pupils at the school and that tumbled to two in early September and now there are none.

Chair of governors Liz Morgan said that the claims had been "blown out of proportion" adding that the school did not tolerate abuse.

Since the beginning of term, the staff have been carrying out administrative work including sorting out equipment to go to other schools.

A Cumbria County Council spokesman said: "Despite a positive recent Ofsted monitoring visit, unfortunately the school now has no pupils attending.

“We’re exploring options with staff about how we might be able to deploy them to other schools when close down procedures have been completed.

"In doing this we have to follow HR law and their employment rights by consulting with staff and working with them to look at what their options might be.”

The council began a consultation on the future of the school on Monday (Oct 27) which will run until November 21.

A meeting will be held as part of the consultation at the school on Thursday November 6 between 4.30pm and 6.30pm in order to allow local residents an opportunity to meet with council representatives, ask questions and make representations on the future of the school.