THE uncertainty surrounding the future of the Deanes School, Thundersley, saw 24 families opt to send their children elsewhere.

This year’s final Year 7 intake at the school in Daws Heath Road is just 60 – the lowest in the history of the school.

A total of 84 youngsters were signed up to start on the first day of term on Tuesday, but many chose to take places elsewhere after Essex County Council announced it wanted to shut the school.

While some parents rang staff at the school to explain their decision, other youngsters simply failed to turn up.

County Hall first revealed proposals to close Deanes in May because of dwindling pupil numbers. Education bosses claimed keeping the school open was “not viable” unless each year group had 120 pupils.

On Monday, Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, announced he would move forward with plans to close the school in three years, despite a specially selected scrutiny committee ruling there was insufficient evidence to support that action.