FIGURES contained in a report prepared by Northumberland County Council, which is due to be considered by cabinet next week, paint a bleak picture of the precarious financial future many small rural schools currently face.

A total of 21 of the 27 maintained schools in the Hexham and Haydon Bridge school partnerships are predicted to be facing a combined deficit of almost £5m by 2021, which is compounded by a surplus of 2,000 places.

Kielder First School – a lifeline in England’s most remote village – has the lowest pupil numbers and highest number of empty spaces in the first school category with just nine children on the roll and 66 surplus places.

The school was rated outstanding by Ofsted, but is predicted to be facing a financial deficit by 2021.

Of the maintained middle schools, the figures suggest Bellingham is facing the biggest challenge with 131 surplus places, a “requires improvement” rating from Ofsted and a predicted financial deficit within the next three years.

The report, penned by Andrew Johnson, interim director of children’s services at the county council, said: “Many smaller schools in the west of the county are predicting financial difficulties in the next three years.

“There are issues we need to tackle and opportunities we need to take if our school system is to be ready for the next decade.”

The tables of figures outlined in the report are reproduced in the image boxes above.