WORCESTERSHIRE'S smallest school has "simply run out of children" and is effectively closed.

Pensax CE Primary School, in the Teme valley, is expected to formally close at Easter.

The school has seen a steady decline in pupil numbers and a decision on its future is in the hands of the governors.

Consultation

The director of educational services at Worcestershire County Council, Julien Kramer, is proposing to seek the agreement of the Cabinet at the end of this month to begin the consultation process and publish notices of the intention to close by April 2003.

"My understanding is that closure of the school is up to the governors, but future use of the building is a matter for the parish and churchwardens who own the property and Worcestershire County Council who provided the land," said the Rev David Morphy, diocesan director of education for Worcestershire.

"This is a sad situation for everyone including the Local Education Authority. This unfortunate decision was not expected. The school simply ran out of children."

At the end of the summer term there were 23 children registered at the school, but during the summer holidays the numbers were significantly reduced.

Parents withdrew their children from the school because they felt it was "no longer able to offer sufficient curriculum width or breadth of education with such low numbers", according to council documents.

The school opened in September with just four children. They have since left and found alternative schools.

Chairman of school governors, Andrew Dunne, said it was not inevitable that the school will close and they were still at the consultation stage.

"On behalf of governors and staff I can safely say that we have always provided a good education with many of our pupils going onto university and the message for schools in similar situations is not to give up too soon," he said.