PARENTS and staff will gather at a North Yorkshire village school this evening (Thursday, March 7) to discuss its potential closure.
Pupil numbers at Clapham CE Primary School have fallen to 28, and are forecast to drop to 22 by September 2020, according to North Yorkshire County Council.
The church school, which dates back to 1864, can no longer afford its own head teacher and is facing a funding shortfall of £28,000 next year - rising to £47,000 the year after.
The school was judged 'outstanding' by Ofsted in their last full inspection eight years ago.
However, the county council says pupil numbers have fallen to a level where "it will be difficult to provide a high quality of education" long term.
The Victorian school building can accommodate up to 59 children.
The county council has launched a consultation on the potential closure, and people have until Thursday, April 4 to share their views.
Tonight's public meeting at the school begins at 6pm.
Parents have been told that nearby schools at Austwick and Bentham would be willing to take extra pupils.
If North Yorkshire County Council approves the closure, the school would shut on August 31 this year.
For more, see www.northyorks.gov.uk/proposal-close-clapham-primary-school
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