THE closure of a small Eden primary school has been confirmed by Cumbria County Council's Cabinet.

Councillors agreed to the closure of Ravenstonedale Endowed School and the re-designation of its catchment area to that of Kirkby Stephen Primary School.

The decision concludes a consultation process that began at the end of October last year. The school will formally close on April 10.

Following closure responsibility for the school building and its maintenance will revert to the Foundation Trustees. The council and governing body will retain responsibility in the interim.

Last June the Gazette reported that Ofsted inspectors put the 13-pupil school into special measures after labelling it 'inadequate' - the lowest of four grades - in a report.

It said the behaviour of pupils was also ‘inadequate’ because there were too many incidents of racist or homophobic bullying, together with ‘serious instances of violence’.

Parents withdrew nearly every pupil following the damning and disputed report. Just two pupils turned up at the 141-year-old school for the start of the new school year in September, but then left for other schools.

Cllr Clare Feeney-Johnson, Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning, said: “The council has no wish to see small rural schools close and it is sad to be shutting a school with such a long local history. But with no pupils and a very small number of pre-school children in the area, the reality is that Ravenstonedale Primary is not sustainable.

“We have had no choice but to follow the legal guidance for bringing about a school closure, for good reason this is not a fast process, but in this case it has drawn out a situation that I think most would wish to have been resolved sooner. I wish pupils every success in their new schools.”