ONE of the smallest primary schools in County Durham is preparing for another ‘battle’ after accusing the council of “back-peddling” on closure consultation plans.

Parents gathered for a meeting at Forest-of-Teesdale School, in Upper Teesdale, tonight (Thursday, April 14) to hear a statement by Durham County Council.

It had previously told the school a consultation would start after Easter with the potential for Forest School, along with Rookhope School, in Weardale, to close in August 2017 due to falling pupil numbers.

However, after both schools started protest campaigns, parents were left confused after the council’s head of education, Caroline O’Neill, told Rookhope parents no final decision over a consultation had been made.

Since then, three governors of Forest School, county councillor Richard Bell, Judith Tarn and Sue Matthews, along with county councillor Ted Henderson, have met with director of children’s and adult services, Rachael Shimmin, Ms O’Neill and cabinet member, Councillor Ossie Johnson, at County Hall.

However, the governors said the statement issued tonight by Ms Shimmin did not reflect what was said at their face-to-face meeting.

The statement said a further meeting will be held within two weeks to “have some more open dialogue about potential solutions to help inform our decision as a council” which the council hopes would provide “some way to us collectively working to co-produce a solution that feels right for schools, communities and the council”.

Mrs Tarn told parents: “The response we got back is a general review of small schools in the county which is what it boils down to – it’s part of a bigger picture – which is a lot cooler than the reception we got in County Hall.”

Parent, Lindsey Littlewood-Noble, said: “I cannot help but think they are back-peddling.”

Cllr Bell, said he interpreted the council’s statement one of three ways, with the council either withdrawing, delaying or eventually saying there was nothing to withdraw and he recommended looking at ways to make the school viable.

“We are in a No Man’s Land in the middle,” he said.

The group are hoping to reach out to other schools in the area and plan to set their own agenda for the coming meeting which is scheduled sometime before April 26.

Mrs Tarn added: “They did not realise they were going to stir up the hornet’s nest which definitely has happened and now they’re sitting back in their chair stung and thinking what they are going to do.”