Norfolk's smallest primary school has suffered its latest blow.

Already facing closure, Brockdish Primary School, near Harleston, has just been told it requires improvement following an Ofsted inspection.

With just 12 pupils and its population not reaching more than 35 children, Norfolk County Council have launched a consultation on proposals to shut it down at the end of the academic year.

An Ofsted report following their visit on Thursday, February 4, said that 'the school is going through an unsettling period' citing that some management tasks have lapsed in the process.

It also outlined that 'too much is asked of the head of the school, the only permanent teacher on the staff, who is allocated no time to manage the school. Although she is doing as much as she is able, curriculum planning, for example, is not rigorously checked'.

Other issues causing the 'requires improvement' status include not preparing pupils enough culturally for life in modern Britain, the school's website does not include information required by law and activities for younger children are not always planned to meet little one's needs and interests.

However the school was praised for its positive climate for learning and its pupils which were described as 'thriving', showing 'exemplary behaviour' and 'good progress'.

An Ofsted report published in 2014 said the school, which is part of the newly-formed Sancroft Church Schools Trust, required improvement.

Joel Crawley, who is headteacher at both Brockdish and Alburgh with Denton Primary School, had previously said that although Brockdish is a small institution, they share resources, visit other schools and give the pupils the best they can.

The final decision about closing the school will be made by Michael Rosen, the council's director of Children's Services.

Have you got a school story for the Mercury to report on? Email Mercury editor Anthony Carroll at anthony.carroll@archant.co.uk