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Ministers may reissue guidance to local authorities on closing small, rural primaries following a welter of complaints from parents and MSPs in Scottish Borders and Midlothian.

Both authorities, like others across the country, are planning to close schools with falling rolls and dilapidated buildings but are under increasing pressure to think again. A further five primaries in the Borders were this week subject to formal consultations, adding to four in February.

In a parliamentary debate last week, Euan Robson, Deputy Education Minister, and a Borders MSP, conceded that he would re-examine the case for fresh advice on closures.

Mr Robson was replying to Rhona Brankin, the Midlothian Labour MSP, who highlighted the strength of parent opposition to plans to close seven primaries and four nurseries in her constituency.

Ms Brankin pressed Mr Robson to update advice on "the test of proportionate advantage" introduced by Brian Wilson, the former education minister, in 1998. Mr Robson replied: "I have undertaken to consider with her whether guidance should be reissued."

But he again declined to intervene in disputes between authorities and parents' groups and underlined the Scottish Executive view that falling rolls and out of date buildings must be tackled. In 10 years, there would be 75,000 fewer children in schools, he pointed out.

The situation in the Borders, however, has now been muddied by the Scottish Conservatives who are opposed to closures where there is no support from parents and the community. They share power in the authority with the Independents.

David Mundell, the South of Scotland Conservative, told MSPs: "It is already clear in most cases that if the closure of a school does not attract the support of parents and their communities, Conservative councillors on Scottish Borders Council will not support it. I commend them for taking that line, which is also the line I take."

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Tory spokesman on education, said: "We strongly support the presumption against closures. The administration should send out that message."

The lack of guidance to local authorities was criticised by Lord James, who pointed out that 38 rural schools have closed in Scotland since 1998, against three a year in England where ministers had supported small schools.

Later this year, a further seven Borders primaries could be up for closure under a public private partnership (PPP) package that may lead to the emergence of five new schools.

Jeremy Purvis, a Borders Liberal Democrat, re-emphasised the importance of schools to communities. Mr Purvis had recently asked "the 50 or so sixth-form pupils" at Earlston High who are about to leave for university how many would return to the Borders. "Two out of 50 said they would."

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New Ofsted figures show high achievement in schools with fewer than 50 pupils. Helen Ward reports

England's smallest schools snatched more than their share of gold stars from inspectors last year.

Pupils in schools with fewer than 50 pupils are more likely to behave well, achieve well and benefit from a broad curriculum.

They are more likely to employ excellent or good teachers and are the most effective overall, the latest Office for Standards in Education figures show.

Inspectors also found that schools with between 50 and 100 pupils had the highest proportion of poor ratings in all eight categories assessed.

They reported that 73 per cent of very small schools were highly effective compared with only 65 per cent of schools with between 50 and 100 pupils.

The national average was 67 per cent.

Six per cent of very small schools were ineffective; the figure was 8 per cent of schools with between 50 and 100 pupils. Both were slightly worse than the national average of 5 per cent.

Mervyn Benford, national co-ordinator of the National Association for Small Schools, said: "One explanation for the success of very small schools is that they are closer to a natural model of education within the family, with older and younger people working together.

"I don't think anything magical happens at the 50-pupil mark. Schools with 51 to 100 pupils do extremely well."

Mike Carter, vice-chairman of the National Small Schools Forum, said:

"Small schools perceive themselves to have a difficulty in providing an appropriate curriculum, so they make a lot of extra effort. They call on specialist teachers for particular subjects and they have a lot of training for a range of subjects because they co-ordinate several subjects.

"Heads are usually teachers in any school with fewer than 100 pupils so they are very aware of any curriculum needs."

Pam Talbot, head of the 50-pupil Cuddington Church of England school, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, said: "Small schools are a wonderful environment in which to really get to know the child and their family. That involvement took me slightly by surprise when I arrived.

"You are involved with everything that goes on in the village."

Ofsted's main inspection categories are: pupil behaviour, leadership, teaching, effectiveness, pupils' achievement, value for money, improvement since the last inspection and providing an appropriate curriculum.

Inspectors analysed 93 schools with fewer than 50 pupils and 347 schools with between 50 and 100 pupils in 2002/3.

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "Rather than trying to attribute size to success, inspection evidence shows schools that do well have a combination of good leadership and management, well-planned lessons and provide a curriculum that excites and interests pupils."

For more information see Ofsted's annual report at www.ofsted.gov.uk