Some of Norfolk's schools are almost certain to close or merge because falling pupil numbers will make it too tough for them to survive, education chiefs have said.
A debate about the future of the county's 422 schools has been triggered after analysis established the number of children in the education system is falling from a peak of nearly 10,000 in the current year eight to fewer than 7,000 in the 2027 reception intake.
Funding for schools is directly linked to pupil numbers, so the drop will have a significant impact on budgets, threatening sustainability of some of them.
While Norfolk County Council does not have direct control over all schools, officials are urging school leaders and governors to work with them to plan for the drop-off.
That could see closures, mergers, schools becoming smaller or changes to catchment areas or admission policies.
Some schools, such as Cantley Primary School and Great Dunham Primary School are already earmarked for closure through mergers.
At a meeting of the county council's children, families and community select committee on Friday, James Wilson, director of strategy and outcomes, said: "In reality the scale of the reduction is such that there will be some school closures or amalgamations that we will have to broker as part of this.
"What it will mean will vary on a case by case basis. The demographic trend is not totally universal. In some areas there are substantial decreases and in others not.
"But if we assume that there are large parts of Norfolk where the numbers are falling, the way schools respond will be many and varied.
"In some cases it may mean a restructuring - simply becoming a smaller school, reducing the number of children admitted or combining classes."
Labour county councillor Mike Smith-Clare questioned whether, with new homes planned, whether the council could end up "shooting itself in the foot" if schools shut only for new housing to mean they were needed again.
Mr Wilson conceded that was a risk, but modelling had taken into account where new home schemes are advanced.
But he said the council could not plan based on unconfirmed housing, such as the mooted new 10,000-home town for south Norfolk.
In response to a question from Liberal Democrat county councillor Tim Adams, Mr Wilson said he could not give a figure on how many schools might shut or merge.
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