TWO of the smallest and most remote schools in County Durham are facing closure, The Northern Echo can reveal.

A leaked report shows that Durham County Council proposes shutting Forest-of-Teesdale Primary School, in Teesdale, and Rookhope Primary School, in Weardale, next summer.

The proposals came as a bitter blow to local council members who fear the move could be bad for children and leave the Durham Dales more isolated than ever.

Councillor John Shuttleworth, who represents Weardale, said: “It won’t make life easy for families and means little kids having to travel further on bad roads which are dangerous in bad weather.

“It will also have an impact on the community, families won’t want to move to Rookhope if there is no school, the upper dale will stagnate because of the lack of services.

"It will disadvantage people in one of the most remote areas of the county, people are paying council tax for services but constantly having them removed.”

Barnard Castle West Councillors Ted Henderson and Richard Bell echoed his concerns.

Cllr Henderson said: “Forest is out in the sticks but it is important to the upper Dale community, for pupils who may already travel a fair distance down to the school Middleton is a long way.

“Rural schools are a hub.”

Cllr Bell, a former pupil at Forest-of-Teesdale, added: “If we do get a bad winter you could be missing school for weeks on end, the Cow Green Road is not on a gritting route and travelling is difficult anyway, it is just not on frankly."

Under the proposal the schools would close in August 2017. Rookhope pupils would be sent 5.8 miles to Stanhope Barrington CE Primary School and children at Forest-of-Teesdale would attend Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School 6.3 miles away.

A proposal has also been made to amalgamate schools at Wearhead and St John’s Chapel into one primary school, across both sites.

The closures have been tabled due to falling pupil numbers as both schools are at less than half capacity.

Just 12 children are on the roll at Rookhope, which has a capacity of 47 and 14 attend Forest-of-Teesdale, which has space for 35.

Projected pupil numbers until 2030 rise to a maximum of 20 at Rookhope and fall as low as seven for Forest-of-Teesdale.

Caroline O’Neill, the council's head of education, said the county has a proportionately high number of smaller than average schools and the authority must rationalise its small schools estate to make it economically viable and secure good quality education in the future.

She said: "Doing nothing is not an option otherwise these schools will not be able to function in the near future.

“There are significant educational benefits for children in being taught in larger schools, including access to wider curricular opportunities and broader teaching expertise.

"Being part of a larger primary education community also facilitates a smoother transition into secondary education.

“Many schools in the county have experience of working collaboratively.

“It is vital that we have a responsible long term strategic plan for education otherwise more communities could see their schools facing closure due to low pupil numbers.

"It is the council’s duty to its residents to ensure children attend schools which are of a size which makes them viable.”

Consultation will begin after Easter with a decision expected in September.

Cllr Henderson urged residents to make their views known.

“Last year the council looked at amalgamating Startforth and Bowes schools but it didn’t happen, people can influence decisions like this,” he said.