A troubleD school could face closure by December.

That is one of the options for Malvern Hills Primary, which has been hit by dwindling numbers, staffing shortages and poor performance in Government inspections.

At a meeting on Monday (June 13), Worcestershire County Council will be asked to approve four possible options for public consultation.

These are closure of the school by either December 2005 or August 2006, pairing it with a successful primary nearby, working with the governing body to put an action plan in place and 'Fresh Start.'

Under the Fresh Start process, the school would be closed and reopened on the same site with a new governing body, headteacher and staff. Di Rayner, school governor and county councillor, said: "We believe in the school. We believe it's a viable school that is going to improve."

"Parents and governors feel strongly about keeping it open. We're all working together and we're going to overcome this. We're working against closure."

After poor results in a 2001 Ofsted inspection, the school was placed under special supervision, or 'special measures,' which it came out of in summer 2004. As part of a recovery plan, it changed its name from Poolbrook Primary to Malvern Hills Primary in September 2003, but failed to improve.

A Government inspector gave a highly critical verbal report to governors after an Ofsted inspection in April. Former head Gill Samuels resigned and acting-head Andy Chilman arrived last week.

The school has the capacity for 150 pupils but currently has only 54 on register.

If approved by county councillors, the consultation process, including a public meeting, would be held during the rest of the summer term, with a report coming back to cabinet in September.

Pupils will be sent to other local primary schools if the school closes.