Essex education chiefs have confirmed a problem-plagued school in Braintree is top of their hit list for the New Year.

But they are remaining tight-lipped about the long-term future of Chapel Hill School.

Chapel Hill has no permanent headteacher, there is a staff shortage and the school roll is well down on 1999.

An Essex County Council education spokesman said: "There is no doubt the school has serious problems. Clearly something must be done in the short term to make sure the children are receiving an acceptable education - at the moment they are not.

"Chapel Hill is top of our list in terms of ensuring something is done and we are considering a wide variety of measures."

The spokesman refused to say whether the school might eventually close.

Concerned parent Chris Abbott, who has two children at Chapel Hill, said: "The whole situation is very much up in the air. We are hoping the school does not close. There are so many rumours going about and as a parent with children there, you need to know.

"My wife has asked the governors to organise a meeting but there has been no date on that yet."

Dave Rogers, chairman of governors, said: "There is absolutely no truth at all in the rumour that the school is closing. It is a smallish school but the support from the parents is quite solid.

"The school does more than teach - it is part of the community and the children deserve it."

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