Teachers, parents and pupils will find out this week if their special school is to be shut down.

An independent adjudicator is expected to announce a decision on the future of St Anne's Special School, Lewes, by the end of the week.

East Sussex County Council wants to close the school, which won The Argus Achievement Awards School of the Year Award, because of a drop in numbers.

Before Christmas, councillors voted to close the school on Rotton Row, which has 73 pupils, by 2007 with the primary section closing by August 31, 2004.

The plan went out to public consultation and was debated by the schools' committee before being referred to an independent adjudicator.

The proposals are part of the council's plans to integrate special needs pupils into mainstream schools.

But some parents argue mainstream schools cannot always provide for their children's needs.

The decision is expected on Friday and most people say they have no idea what the outcome could be.

Headteacher Gill Ingold said: "I am just completely unsure about which way the adjudicator is going to go.

"I do feel the adjudicator process was run in a fair way.

"A lot of the staff look tired and preoccupied so I think they are worried but they are keeping that to themselves.

"I do not think the children are aware of how important the end of this week is. I think they are happily ignorant."

The adjudicator spent an afternoon at the school.

Mrs Ingold said: "He seemed to know the background. He seemed very impressed with the school but it is not being judged on that.

"We had a meeting in the evening and I do not feel he had made his mind up and he wanted to read more evidence."

Parent governor Julie Champion, whose son Ryan, six, is a pupil at the school, said: "I am not completely pessimistic. I am nervous but if it goes the right way it will be the biggest party ever."