A YORKSHIRE DALES primary school could be facing the final nail in its coffin tomorrow as members of the North Yorkshire School Organisation Committee meet to consider its future.

Crucial meeting for Langcliffe Primary School

The village of Langcliffe near Settle has been teaching children in its own primary school since the 1820's. Like many rural schools, however, Langcliffe has faced dwindling pupil numbers, prompting education bosses at North Yorkshire County Council to recommend its closure from the end of the current academic year.

The school was praised during its last Ofsted inspection in 2002 as "an effective school that provides a satisfactory standard of education". With just 10 pupils now on its roll even that report was not enough to guarantee the school a future.

Tomorrow's meeting in Settle could provide the final chance to save the school. The School Organisation Committee is a statutory organisation which is not linked to the County Council; the decision-making body only convenes when deciding on statutory proposals for school organisation, such as significant expansion, changes in age range, and closures. If the vote is split the fate of the primary school will be decided by the schools inspector.

Parents, teachers and village residents have opposed the closure all along and Chairman of the governors, Ray Heaton will speak on behalf of those campaigning for Langcliffe's future.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will take place at Victoria Hall in Settle at 10.30am.

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