Lowick Primary School has just 21 pupils

Campaigners for the school, which has 21 pupils, had claimed local people had not been properly consulted, and that the county council had failed to carry out its statutory duties.

They might now try further action by going to the High Court for a judicial review.

A decision was taken in January to close Lowick Primary School, near Ulverston, at the end of this academic year, because of falling pupil numbers.

But concerns were raised about votes cast at a School Organisation Committee committee hearing, which decided the school's fate.

'Statutory duty'

However, a Department for Education and Skills spokesman told BBC News Online on Thursday: "We have considered complaints from the public about the decision to close the school.

"There was no evidence the School Organisation Committee failed to carry out its statutory duty.

"There are no grounds for the Secretary of State to intervene under the 1996 Education Act.

"Those members of the public who are concerned could take legal advice, and may well be considering applying for judicial review."

South Lakeland Conservative MP Tim Collins had claimed political pressure was put on members of the committee not to vote in favour of keeping the school open.

'Followed guidance'

And he had called on Education Secretary Charles Clarke to look again at the decision.

But Cumbria County Council spokesman for Education, Joan Stocker, said: "There is nothing we have done, in their (Department for Education's ) view, that is not proper for the School Organisation Committee.

"We have followed the guidance that they would have wanted us to.

"What the Secretary of State is saying to local people who asked him for his support, is that it is up to them now to perhaps seek a judicial review, if that is something they think is available to them."