Norfolk County Council has long raised concerns about small rural schools, on the grounds of both costs and pupil achievement.

Eastern Daily Press: The King George VI Primary School in Great Bircham. Picture: Matthew Usher,The King George VI Primary School in Great Bircham. Picture: Matthew Usher, (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2014)

According to a council analysis, last year 61.8pc of pupils at schools with less than 50 children gained the expected level in maths, reading and writing by the time they left, compared to a Norfolk average of 71pc.

Eastern Daily Press: Hickling Infant SchoolHickling Infant School (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2009)

Eastern Daily Press: Brockdish Primary SchoolBrockdish Primary School (Image: ARCHANT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHIC © 2005)

• Small, stand-alone schools set to go as plan to transform rural education moves forward

As of September 2013, Norfolk had 36 schools with fewer than 50 pupils on their roll:

• King George VI Primary School, 14 pupils

• William Marshall VC Primary School, 19 pupils

• Hickling CE VC Infant School, 22 pupils

• Mileham Primary School, 24 pupils

• Brockdish CE VC Primary School, 25 pupils

• Eccles, Hargham & Wilby CE VA Primary School, 27 pupils

• Erpingham VC Primary School, 28 pupils

• Tivetshall Primary School, 30, pupils

• Hapton CE VC Primary School, 30 pupils

• Sedgeford Primary School, 31 pupils

• East Ruston Area Community Infant School, 32 pupils

• Northrepps Primary School, 34 pupils

• Shelton With Hardwick Community School, 34 pupils

• Weasenham VC Primary School, 35 pupils

• Colkirk CE VA Primary School, 35 pupils

• Marsham Primary School, 36 pupils

• Ten Mile Bank Community Primary School, 36 pupils

• Great Massingham CE Primary School, 36 pupils

• Brancaster CE VA Primary School, 36 pupils

• Wormegay CE VA Primary School, 37 pupils

• Fleggburgh CE VC Primary School, 37 pupils

• Neatishead VC Primary School, 37 pupils

• Woodton Primary School, 39 pupils

• Walsingham CE VA Primary School, 42 pupils

• St. Andrew's CE VA Primary School, 42 pupils

• Saxlingham Nethergate CE VC Primary School, 43 pupils

• Walpole Highway Community Primary School, 44 pupils

• Catfield CE VC Primary School, 44 pupils

• Hindringham CE VC Primary School, 45 pupils

• Terrington St. John Primary School, 46 pupils

• Hockering CE VC Primary School, 46 pupils

• Blakeney CE VA Primary School, 46 pupils

• Gillingham St Michael's CE Primary School, 47 pupils

• Aslacton Primary School, 49 pupils

• Kelling CE Primary School, 49 pupils

• Tilney All Saints CE VC Primary School, 49 pupils