THE closure of Sadberge CE Primary School is likely be brought forward to August 31 - ten months earlier than planned.
On Wednesday, Darlington Borough Council school organisation committee approved the new date, which has to receive final approval at a meeting between the education department and school governors.
Officers recommended the early closure following a fall in the school's academic roll from 50 to 32 following the announcement that the school would close next year.
It could result in a possible pupil population of only 16 to 20 in September.
The authority wants the children from Sadberge to attend school at neighbouring Middleton St George.
Paul Campbell, from the education department, said Middleton St George's governing body would accept all interested pupils from Sadberge in September, and that it had ring-fenced all employment vacancies for Sadberge staff.
He added the authority was also working with individual staff members to secure their desired course of action, be that retirement, redundancy or redeployment, either in another school or within a council department.
* The committee was also told the approved closure date for Eastbourne Nursery School is August 31. It will pave the way for a foundation stage nursery at Dodmire Infants' School.
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