For more than 100 years, an Upper Hunter school has been home to small cohort of rural students but next year could be its last.
Martindale Public School families who make up the seven-strong student body are not going down without a fight to keep the school gates open.
On August 27, president of the school's P&C Association Ellise Bunt was notified that the Department of Education had decided to put the school into recess from 2027.
A school placed into recess is reviewed every two years to assess changes in the surrounding area and community and whether to reopen the school, hold the school in recess or close the school, according to the department's website.
"It's sad, the centenary was not that long ago and there's so many local families around here who all attended," Ms Bunt said.
"It is a shame to see such a beautiful school close."
Ms Bunt believed if the small school went into recess it was unlikely to draw in enough prospective enrolments to eventually reopen.
The prospect of placing the school into recess started in April this year when Ms Bunt first received a call that the department was considering the move.
At the time, the P&C understood the department was reviewing student data from the start of this year when only four children were enrolled after two families left at short notice.
In following consultation meetings, Ms Bunt said the P&C identified multiple additional potential enrolments for coming years.
Ms Bunt said from canvassing the local community, the P&C found potential for encouraging student growth with at least eight enrolments locked in for 2027, potentially 14 in 2029 and 16 in 2030.
At the end of Term 2, the school had also acquired three new students and one in orientation planning to start kindergarten next year.
"We don't have a great deal of time, and this is not what the community wants," Ms Bunt said.
"There's been quite a bit of interest in Martindale lately, which is even more frustrating if we weren't in this situation, they'd enrol tomorrow."
P&C secretary and parent of three children at the Hunter school Vanessa Richards said she did not feel the consultation process had been open and transparent.
"We are very disappointed by the decision by the department and a little bit shocked about how the whole process has unfolded," Ms Richards said.
She hoped the department would reverse its decision and use the updated information on student numbers the P&C had provided.
Both parents said they loved the opportunity for older and younger kids to intermingle and look after one another in a classroom environment.
"The kids almost acquire extra siblings," Ms Richards said.
"It's a lovely little rural school in a very well supported community."
Former school staff member Sue Pickersgill said school numbers fluctuated all the time at small schools.
"The numbers are low but there are more younger women coming out here on farms and having children, so I think it will change, it will turn again," she said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said a school only moved to recess after extensive consultation with parents, carers, stakeholders and the local community.
"Key to any decision is consideration of the best educational interests of schools, including access to curriculum offerings," they said.
Member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said he had written to the Minister for Education at the end of August to see if a meeting could be set up with the P&C.
"We have the evidence there to show it, and really all we're asking for is another 12 months to be able to establish the numbers going forward and to be able to prove that we can keep the school going," Mr Layzell said.
"It gives a good alternative to students who might be drowning in those larger schools for a various different reason and give them another option."
