A primary school is to be shut down after being in special measures for more than two years.
St Anne's School, in Colchester, has been without a permanent headteacher since Will Hawkesworth resigned in January 2002.
Closing down - pupils arriving at St Anne's Primary School in Colchester today Picture: NIGEL BROWN
It will now either be shut down, or closed and reopened under the Department for Education and Skills Fresh Start scheme.
Under Fresh Start, the school would reopen with a new name, governors and headteacher.
The teachers would have to re-apply for their own jobs.
If given Fresh Start status, the school would get an extra £125,000 a year for three years.
But, because of the school's falling pupil numbers, the Fresh Start option could be turned down by the Government.
Then the final option will be to close the school down entirely.
The 124-pupil school was placed in special measures by inspectors in November 2000.
Last night parents got a letter from Peter Evans, assistant director of education at Essex County Council.
It read: "You will be aware that the school is going through a very difficult period and has not made the progress that we would expect to see at the moment.
"St Anne's is not providing its pupils with the standard of education they deserve. The closure of the school would be a disaster for the community. Therefore we are proposing a fresh start."
A meeting with parents will be held on Thursday at 6pm
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