School reopens for its only pupil

A PRIMARY school in Norfolk may have to stay open to teach just one child at a cost of pounds 3,200 a month, it was revealed yesterday.

Richard Marlin's parents insist that the five-year-old be taught at the school which was left empty when parents removed all their children after inspectors said it was "failing".

The boy's parents were among those who removed children from the village school in Potter Heigham, in the Norfolk Broads, over Christmas. But they said Richard was bullied when he transferred to another school in the neighbouring village of Catfield.

The local education authority is legally obliged to teach Richard in the school if his parents want him to go and there is a place - which there is, as the school was never formally closed.

The school reopened yesterday after the half-term holiday and a supply teacher taught Richard, under the supervision of a head teacher.

The Marlins now plan to keep their son at the school for as long as possible.

Norfolk County Council believes it is bad for Richard's development for him to being taught on his own. It is also concerned that keeping the school open will cost pounds 39,000 a year.

Richard spent his first day having an hour's English and an hour of maths. He practised painting in the afternoon and played football with the head teacher at break.

''We will keep Richard at Potters Heigham for as long as possible. For a five-year-old, bullying is not on,'' said Mrs Marlin. "He was getting pushed around and was not sleeping when he went to Catfield. He had become very quiet even though he is normally a chatty little boy.''

Mrs Marlin said her son was bullied again - even though the school punished three boys who were picking on him.

"Richard is the sort of boy who thinks everybody is going to be friendly. He was getting scared to talk about what was happening and being bullied could have put him off school."

It was better for him to be on his own than to be picked on, she added.

She said she blamed the council for the situation as it had failed to sort out problems at Potter Heigham and this had caused parents to remove their children.

Tony Jackson, deputy director of Norfolk's education department, said: ''It is a very curious situation.

"But our one concern must be about a five year-old child being in a school on his own."

He said the council had already set aside a budget to run Potter Heigham although it would save the money if the school closed.

Councillors would discuss closing the school next month, he said, but it would take at least until September to complete the process.

Maureen Vaissiere, head teacher of Catfield School, said there had only been one incident of bullying, something that was not normally a problem at the school.

"The boys involved had been kept in during play times and made to write to Richard to apologise.