THE director of Herefordshire's education authority has emphatically rejected claims that all small schools in the county are threatened with closure.

In a letter to The Hereford Times, Dr Eddie Oram states that Herefordshire Council 'values and safeguards' its many villages schools and regards them as a permanent feature of the education provision for pupils in rural areas.

"The council has a very careful policy for looking at individual schools when their numbers become very low," he said.

"No primary school with more than 45 pupils is ever reviewed. Even then small schools will not normally be reviewed unless there are other strong reasons for wider concern."

Dr Oram has spoken out in response to claims from Neil Ramsey, chairman of governors at Hope-under-Dinmore Primary School, which he alleges created the impression that all small schools in the county could face closure.

"At present there are six primary schools with fewer than 45 pupils. Only two, including Hope-under-Dinmore, are being considered for possible closure - the future of the others is not in doubt."

Dr Oram states that the review of Hope-under-Dinmore has been triggered by several 'unusual circumstances' and not simply because, with 29 pupils, it is the smallest school in the county.

According to Dr Oram, the school attracts only just over half of the children who live in its local area, with parents of 26 primary-age pupils living in the village preferring to send their offspring to other council schools.

He added: "Although, since the summer, Hope-under-Dinmore has gained 15 more children from 12 new houses in the village, no further housing development is planned in the area.

"Pupils numbers are now expected to drop again, particularly following the decline in the birth rate over the last five years."

Dr Oram believes part of the problem for Hope-under-Dinmore is that the school is separated from parts of the village by the A49 Leominster to Hereford road.

"When there are other concerns value for money becomes important," he explained. "The annual cost of the school is £107,000 for the 29 pupils, giving a cost per pupil twice the county average.

"If it were to close, an additional £4.25 per pupil would be available each year for every other primary school in the county."

The future of Hope-under-Dinmore is currently under discussion in public consultation, at the end of which the council will decide whether or not to publish statutory proposals for closure to take place at the end of next summer.

For more information about the strengths and weaknesses of the school, a special report is available from the education office on 01432 260811 or by visiting www.education.herefordshire.gov.uk.