CAMPAIGNERS have lost their fight to stop Horton-in-Ribblesdale Primary School from closure.

The Ofsted rated 'outstanding' school, which has just 12 children on its roll, will however close after some children have taken Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) at the end of the summer term, and not in April as originally planned.

The closure was agreed on Tuesday by North Yorkshire County Council's Executive, despite the efforts of governors and villagers to keep it open.

Efforts included the appointment by the school governors of a new headteacher at the beginning of the year, following the resignation at the end of last year by the former head, and the putting together of a new long term financial plan.

Cllr Arthur Barker, the council's Executive member for schools, said it had been a very difficult decision and he reminded planning authorities - Craven District Council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park - of the importance of building new homes.

He said it was the council's belief that current policies of the national park, which controls planning for Horton, would not allow the potential of more families moving into the village.

“We understand the crucial role village schools play in the life of their communities and we work with planning authorities to emphasise the importance and need for affordable and suitable housing to attract families into rural areas. If small schools are to survive then communities must remain sustainable and planning authorities must take this into account. Unfortunately we do not believe that the policies of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will provide sufficient children to ensure the continuing viability of the school even if potential housing developments in Horton me forward."

Cllr Barker said the council supported small schools, but that it had real concerns about the 'quality and breadth' of education Horton could continue to provide, and its financial viability.

“There is a major difference between most of the small schools in the county and the current position at Horton, with its very low numbers which are projected to fall even further," he said.

Richard Noake, director of education for the Leeds Diocese, said the diocese agreed with the decision.

"We are very aware of all the attempts that have been made by the local community to keep this school going, but the overriding concerns about quality of provision and financial viability have not gone away, " he said.

Alternatives to closure had been explored, said the council, but no other school was currently willing to enter into a 'federation;' with Horton.

The school is also not suitable for conversion to academy status or to join a multi-academy trust because of its size.

It is proposed that the catchment area of Austwick Primary School, also rated 'outstanding', should be expanded to include the current Horton catchment area.