TOWNSEND Primary School - the heart of its community - is set to close.

Bournemouth council officers have recommended that the failing school is shut, but the final decision will be taken by councillors.

If the school closes the 96 pupils will have to move elsewhere in September next year.

Executive director of children and families services for Bournemouth Borough Council Jane Portman said: "I think that parents will be shocked and that staff will be disappointed by the recommendation.

"But our responsibility is to ensure the best quality of education for every child in Bournemouth."

Townsend Primary School was identified as a failing school by inspectors and was put into special measures' in November 2005.

Ms Portman said: "The school has made very little progress over the last 23 months."

The council also claims that the school does not offer value for money as it costs £4,217 to educate a pupil there for a year compared to an average of £2,884 in other Bournemouth schools.

The school is currently operating less than half full.

The recommendation comes after a consultation in which 1,500 documents were circulated to parents, governors and others involved with the school.

Only 23 parents with children at the school provided written responses. Some called the school the heart of the community' and most expressed support for it staying open.

The consultation focused on four options for the school: no change, federation with another school, Fresh Start' closing the school then reopening it with a change of status and permanent closure.

Officers rejected the option of federation with Bournemouth Alternative Needs Federation because it was an untested approach.

The report said that the benefit of closure would be more guarantee of a good standard of education for Townsend children in other schools' but it mentioned that it could lead to a decrease in school attendance for some children because of extra travel.

Ms Portman said: "If a family cannot get children to another school we would ensure they were supported with travel arrangements."

No decision has been taken on what the school buildings would be used for if the school closed.

All members of staff including head Steve Jessop and deputy David Vooght-Simpson will lose their jobs but Ms Portman said the council would help them in finding suitable work elsewhere.

School closure will be discussed by councillors on November 6 and a decision will be taken by cabinet members on November 21.