HEREFORDSHIRE'S smallest school has seen off another threat to its future.

And St Mary's of Hope Primary should be around for some time to come given a unanimous show of support when the county's education scrutiny committee met on Tuesday.

St Mary's had come before the committee to be reviewed because of its low numbers. But members said that with just a year gone since it secured its survival, the school with only 18 pupils needed more time to let numbers rise.

If there were waverers among the committee a strong argument in the school's favour, made by its ward councillor Keith Grumbley, brought them on side.

Councillor Grumbley cited high standards at the school, a successful nursery, increasing community support, and the example set by other struggling small schools that had since seen rolls rise as reasons why there was no need for a new review.

One of those other schools, Dilwyn, was also before the committee.

Members heard that although its numbers had fallen below 45 for the first for the first time in seven years, the 38 now on the roll represented a more promising future than the 22 the school had dropped to in 1992.

So the committee agreed that no action was needed at Dilwyn - nor at Brilley (39 pupils), King's Caple (35) and Longtown (40), schools that also came within LEA criteria for a review.

Monitored

Those criteria say that schools with fewer than 36 pupils have their futures assessed while others, with between 36 and 45 pupils, are monitored as to potential pupil numbers.

The committee heard how Dilwyn, Brilley, King's Caple and Longtown had factors like location and catchment in their favour.

St Mary's saw off a shutdown last year when the LEA's case for closure was rejected by a national adjudicator.

This time, the unanimous rejection of another review at the first stage of recommendation means the school should not face another such scare for some time.