The council proposes to close Ripple School by January 2005

The authority wants to close the school on grounds of cost and low achievement, but the families want it to stay open.

More than 100 people attended a meeting on Wednesday about Ripple Primary in Deal which has 35 pupils.

More than 50 people were unable to attend an earlier meeting, because of the size of the hall.

They won't wriggle and they will want to hear both sides John Adams, chairman of school governors

After the meeting, Doctor Ian Craig, the council's assistant director of education and libraries, said the decision would probably not be taken by Kent County Council.

He said: "If even one person objects to this process, the decision is taken out of the hands of the county council.

"It is independent people outside Kent who will have to weigh up the pros and cons of this.

"The parents and community are saying 'keep the school open'.

"At the end of the day, an arbiter will have to weigh that up against other factors in front of them."

Chairman of the school governors, John Adams, said: "It would be much more satisfying, making a proposal to a third party, a neutral party, because they won't come with an agenda.

"They won't wriggle and they will want to hear both sides."