TWO village schools are facing closure after education chiefs announced proposals to slash the numbers of empty school places.

Trottiscliffe Primary School, near West Malling, and Shipbourne Primary School, near Tonbridge, are both threatened with closure under Kent County Council’s Primary Strategy, announced on Thursday.

The strategy sets out consultative plans to cut the numbers of surplus primary school places - currently 14.8 per cent in Tonbridge and Malling.

Both schools are small village schools. Trottiscliffe Primary has 61 pupils and 23 surplus places, while Shipbourne Primary has 48 pupils, with eight empty places.

Trottiscliffe head teacher Stella Sudds said: “What is so sad is that we are a really super school and they have not bothered to come in and look at what we are actually doing. They have just counted up the numbers.

“We are very strong, positive and everbody loves the school. We are going to fight. We feel they are targeting small schools and it is going to have a tremendous impact on every one of the children if they don’t survive.”

In a statement, the Shipbourne’s governors described the school as “exemplary” and said: “We fully support the staff and children and will oppose any proposal to close the school. The school is confident that it will overcome this challenge.”

KCC’s strategy also includes proposals to cut places at Snodland Primary School, Roberts Road, Snodland, from 413 to 315 and use the space for a children’s centre.

East Peckham Primary School, Pound Road, would be reduced by 114 places; Long Mead Primary, Tonbridge, would reduce its places by 104 and St Stephens Primary, Tonbridge, by 105.

Snodland Primary headteacher Pauline Davis said: “We have been forewarned and it is something in a way we would quite welcome because a children’s centre would make our school more a centre of the community.”

The proposals go to KCC’s schools organisation advisory board on Thursday, May 18, and if agreed, will go out to public consultation.