A village school in east Wiltshire is to close due to a drop in pupil numbers.

Shalbourne Church of England Primary School - around 10 miles from Marlborough - will shut after the move was approved by the cabinet at Wiltshire Council.

The number of pupils at the school had dropped from 30 in May 2023 to seven by the start of the autumn term of the following academic year.

A public consultation on the proposed closure was held between September and October 2023.

The governors of the school said that they “reluctantly agreed” to the proposed closure of the school and the reallocation of the catchment area to Great Bedwyn Church of England School.

The decision to approve the closure was made at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 6.

The report presented to councillors stated: “Whilst the school has always been small, the gradual decline in pupil numbers followed by a recent significant reduction in pupils has made the school both financially and academically vulnerable.”

Councillor Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills said: “All the children who were due to be at the school have found alternative schooling.”

She also described the issue of falling numbers within certain rural primary schools as “significant".

The cabinet approved the proposal to close the school from April 30.