EDUCATION chiefs in West Som-erset are considering far-reaching changes to the district's school system, the County Gaz-ette has learned.

n OUT could go one of the current three tiers of schools. n IN could come a 'federated' structure with headteachers being asked to head up more than one school.

While educationalists this week played down fears of a crisis, headteachers at three village first schools say a substantial fall in the numbers of children in reception classes this year is a 'blip'.

As the new school year gets un-der way, Cutcombe First School has just one child in its reception class this week, while Stogumber and Crowcombe First Schools have none.

A number of working groups are coming together in the district to assess the situation, and a crisis meeting of headteachers and county education officials is planned to discuss ways of tackling the issue.

Mo Best, headteacher at Cutcombe, which currently has just 23 pupils in two classes, told the Gazette this week: "This is the first time the reception class has been so small.

"But we are expecting six or seven children next year, and six the following year, so it's a temporary blip."

See this week's edition of the West Somerst County Gazette for more on this and other stories.