AbstractThere are well-established legal procedures that have to be followed when a school is proposed for closure in the UK. A reasoned case has to be made for the closure of the school and consultation with interested parties has to take place. This is an ideal opportunity for Community Operational Research to get involved. However, school closures are the result of a political programme, and a response which is based on analysis rather than on political pressure may simply be ignored, no matter how convincing the argument. This paper discusses the role of the Community Operational Researcher as a source of expert advice in a complicated issue. It is argued that, in this particular case, OR analysis served only to expose the impotence of individuals when faced with arbitrary administrative decisions.