THE future of Richard Evans Primary School in Haydock will be under discussion at a crucial meeting next week.

Officers at St Helens Council have recommended that the school close from August 2006 and for the last few months have held consultations over the suggestion.

Now they will report back at next Wednesday's executive meeting on Richard Evans and two other schools, Broadway High School and Windlehurst Primary School in Windle.

Susan Richardson, director of children and young people's services, said: "Consulting on the closure of any school is always difficult and it was clear the school was highly valued by parents and pupils in the school community.

"The local authority has a responsibility to manage the provision of school places in the interests of pupils and the community.

"It is essential that schools have adequate pupil numbers to ensure that enough funding is available to deliver a balanced curriculum.

"Pupil members across St Helens, as elsewhere in the north west, are continuing to fall and regrettably it is felt that the three schools concerned will not be viable in the future."