Craig, Bradley, Zoe and Kirsty-Mae are a class in a million - the two brothers and two sisters will be the only four pupils in their school in September.

They won't have many friends to chose from. But the quartet will have the bonus of a computer each to use in their lessons as well as the undivided attention of two members of staff.

The extraordinary situation has arisen at Wantage CP Primary School, Gars- ton Lane, because the parents of their former classmates have chosen to switch their children to alternative schools in the town while formal consultations take place over the primary's closure.

But the county has a legal obligation to keep the school open until the Government gives permission for it to shut for good.

The school has steadily seen its roll fall from 173 in 1989 to 75 in the last academic year. Its problems continued in December when an inspection by the education watchdog Ofsted found the school to be failing. Earlier this year, governors decided unanimously that it should close in the interests of the children and because it was no longer financially viable for the school to continue. It is expected that the closure will be rubber-stamped by the Government in December.

Headteacher Peter Gill, who will be returning to teach the remaining four pupils along with a learning support assistant in September, said: "The parents were given an opportunity to decide if they wanted to start a new school in September or January

"It's going to be a challenge. What I'm planning to do is for certain activities we'll be visiting local schools. We'll be taking part in PE, games and assemblies.

"They've got a computer each, which is rather nice."

Sharon Nicholl, who chaired a campaign group formed to fight the closure, was one of those who reluctantly agreed to shift her son, Guy, eight, to an alternative school.

She said: "Just because I do not want the school to close, it does not mean I can leave him there."

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