South Deal Primary School could be merged with Mongeham

Falling pupil numbers had led to Kent County Council needing to make "some serious decisions" in the Dover area.

The Kent Primary Strategy suggested the closure of five primary schools while four others could be merged.

The School Organisation Advisory Board (SOAB) recommended on Wednesday that plans for seven of the schools should go out to public consultation.

Consultation was recommended for Langdon, St Radigunds Community, Melbourne Community, the Powell, South Deal and Mongeham.

BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS Consultation on closure of Langdon and St Radigunds Community Consultation on mergers of Melbourne Community and the Powell, and South Deal with Mongeham No consultation on closure of Goodnestone CE, Ripple and St Joseph's Catholic

And consultation was not recommended for Goodnestone CE, Ripple and St Joseph's Catholic.

The South Deal Action Committee organised the demonstration outside County Hall in Maidstone.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly and local politicians have been contacted by the protesters.

Kent County Council said surplus primary school places were costing too much money.

Sevenoaks consultation

The board was deciding whether there should be a public consultation on the proposals.

It also looked at possible closures in the Sevenoaks area, and agreed that planned closure of St Lawrence CE should go out to public consultation.

And two proposed mergers of four schools should also go out to public consultation.

After the meeting, a Kent County Council spokeswoman said the recommendations would be considered by Councillor Leyland Ridings, cabinet spokesman for education.