Community "angry and distraught" over decision to close 'Outstanding' Yorkshire Dales school

North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive has decided to push ahead with plans to close the tiny Church of England school in Horton-in Ribblesdale, near Settle, despite a wave of opposition from the community.

The school will close at the end of the summer term.

Head of governors Nicky Rhodes, who has announced that the school will be launching an official appeal against the decision, said: “It was an appalling meeting which showed callous disregard for our community and our children.”

It is proposed that the catchment Austwick CE VA Primary School, which Ofsted has also judged as outstanding, should be expanded to include the current Horton-in-Ribblesdale catchment area.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale has only 12 children on roll, including just one child in Key Stage 1 and two boys in the school. And Numbers are projected to fall further with 10 in October and 8 in October 2018, according to the county council.

Coun Arthur Barker, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Schools, said: “This has been a very difficult decision for the council. We do not take the decision lightly to close a school and we do our best to support our small schools.”