EDUCATION chiefs in West Somerset are considering far-reaching changes in the district's school system, the County Gazette has learned.

OUT could go one of the current three tiers of school. 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 underway, 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.

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