Officials at Norfolk County Council have been warning a decline in the birth rate could mean some schools need to close, merge, rethink admission numbers and catchment areas or become part of larger multi academy trusts to keep them sustainable.

Norfolk County Council education bosses are worried about declining pupil numbers (Image: Press Association)

The number of children in Norfolk's education system is expected to fall from a peak of nearly 10,000 in the current year eight to fewer than 7,000 in the 2027 reception intake.

Because funding for schools is directly linked to pupil numbers, the drop will have a significant impact on budgets, threatening the sustainability........

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