THE possible closure of several Kent primary schools in a bid to cope with plummeting pupil numbers has moved a step closer.

County councillors have recommended that public consultation starts on proposals to close two schools in Dover and Deal: Langdon Primary and St Radigund’s Community School.

They also backed plans for the mergers of Melbourne Community School and Powell School in Dover and South Deal School with Mongeham School.

But they threw a potential lifeline to threee others on Kent County Council’s hitlist, saying that there should be no consultation on the plans to shut Ripple School, St Joseph’s Catholic School in Aylesham and Godnestone C of E School. This would mean withdrawing them from the closure programme.

County education chiefs say they will now weigh up the recommendations made by KCC’s cross-party Schools Advisory Board before deciding what to do.

Staff, parents and pupils from the schools staged a demonstration outside County Hall in Maidstone ahead of the meeting.

A dramatic fall in pupil numbers is behind the closure plans, with Kent facing a huge county-wide surplus of about 14,000 places among its 421 primaries.

Cllr Leyland Ridings (Con), KCC’s cabinet member for schools, said he took seriously the views expressed by his colleagues.

“The views expressed were very wide-ranging and although we had thought of most of the points raised, there were some additional thoughts that need to be thrown into the mix. The board’s views are important and give us a different perspective,” he said.

He added that he had been struck by the views that many of the schools threatened with closure catered for pupils with special needs who might find it difficult in a different school.

He also apologised for the way in which some of the schools had learned that they were in the frame for closure.

Dover county councillor Eileen Rowbotham said KCC’s decision to tell some schools on the last day of term before Easter was “atrocious.”

Cllr Ridings said: “We have learned our lesson and we will not do that again but there was no intention to upset schools,” he said.

Councillors also backed recommendations for two mergers of four schools in Sevenoaks: Birchwood and White Oak Community Primary Schools and in Swanley, Hextable Infant and Junior Community Schools. The board also backed plans to close St Lawrence Church of England School.