THE future of small rural schools in West Somerset could be threatened by a dramatic drop in pupil population over the next few years.

Teachers' jobs could be lost and year groups merged as falling rolls could leave an estimated 700 surplus places in West Somerset's primary and middle schools by 2007.

Figures released in Somerset County Council's School Organisation Plan (SOP) this week reveal there are about 300 surplus places in first schools and about 147 in middle schools, with those figures set to rise to 500 and 201 respectively by 2007.

Schools get much of their money based on their pupil numbers, so falling rolls mean less funding, leaving headteachers with tough decisions on staffing levels in coming years.

School education provision in West Somerset could be reviewed if county education chiefs decide the situation has become serious enough when they meet later this term.

For each Somerset school, the SOP compares its capacity with its predicted roll up to and including September 2007, although not all headteachers agree with the county's figures.

Knights Templar First School, in Watchet, which has a capacity of 330, shows numbers decreasing from 268 this year to 220 in 2007, leaving it with a surplus of 110 places.

The school faces losing one, if not two classes by 2007, with pupils being taught in mixed age-range classes for the first time in years.

And tiny rural schools, such as Timberscombe, Stogumber, Cutcombe and Crowcombe could be vulnerable if their pupil numbers fall too low.

Where a school has more than 30 surplus places -- and many will have by 2007 -- the county will consider a number of options, including turning spare space into a nursery, leasing a building to another organisation, or removing temporary classrooms.

At West Somerset Community College, Minehead, student numbers are forecast to remain relatively stable in coming years.

For the full story, see the Minehead edition of this week's Somerset County Gazette.