Yorkshire Dales tiny primary school's fate to be decided next week

North Yorkshire Council said it was considering closing the rural school due to falling pupil numbers, financial pressures and teacher recruitment

The fate of a tiny primary school in the Yorkshire Dales which is facing closure is to be discussed next week.

North Yorkshire Council said Fountains Earth Church of England Primary School in Lofthouse, Nidderdale, suffered falling pupil numbers in recent years.

It will consider on Tuesday whether to start a consultation on a proposal to close the school.

There are currently no pupils at the establishment as they all transferred to other schools in September.

In 2017, when the school was rated good by Ofsted, there were 22 pupils.

That number has been steadily dwindling and last year, when the closure plans were announced, there were only 11 pupils.

'Extremely hard' decision

If approved, a consultation on the closure will start in late November and run for five weeks, including a public meeting.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, executive member for education, learning and skills, said: "A decision to consult on potentially closing a school is always an extremely hard one to have to make. No-one wants to be in this position.

"North Yorkshire maintains more small, rural schools than any other local authority in the country.

"Sadly, the reality is that many of our schools, particularly those in rural areas, are seeing pupil numbers reduce year-on-year.

"Fountains Earth Primary School is among the rural schools finding itself in a difficult position, particularly around pupil numbers and funding, and I will consider these issues carefully when deciding if a public consultation should proceed."

Feedback from the consultation process is expected in January 2024.

If a closure has been agreed, the school would close on 31 March 2024, the council added.