Closure ‘will be for best’
SHUTTING PROBLEM SCHOOL WILL RAISE EDUCATION STANDARDS, SAYS KIRKLEES
CLOSING a problem school could actually strengthen education in a Huddersfield suburb.
That’s the argument put forward by Kirklees Council, which is proposing to end secondary provision at troubled Almondbury Community School (ACS).
But the shock decision has thrown up questions over whether the estimated 300 pupils, aged 11-16, can be accommodated in neighbouring schools, principally King James’s School.
The council will discuss a consultation into whether the school should be stripped of its secondary phase at a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.
A spokesman said that work was ongoing to make improvements, but decisions were needed on whether ACS is sustainable in the long term and whether it is in the community’s best interests “for the school to continue in its current form”.
Among those monitoring the situation is local ward councillor Bernard McGuin (Con, Almondbury), who revealed the council is considering expanding King James’s existing catchment area – which extends as far as Kirkheaton and Grange Moor – to take in ACS and All Hallows’ Primary.
He said: “That means all the places at King James’s, which currently has spare capacity, will be taken up. The school will mop up everyone that used to go to ACS.”
However, while the council is proposing to close ACS as a high school, it is not likely to shut before next year.
That means the school will still be accepting pupils during the 2019/20 academic year and possibly beyond.
Clr McGuin added: “The question I have for the council is this: If youngsters are still going to be accepted at ACS for the foreseeable future, will Kirklees Council invest in the school to ensure educational standards are met?”
He said the council had made “a rush decision” following an Ofsted report that branded the school “inadequate”.
ACS is an “all-through” school for children aged from three to 16 (including nursery) and the main proposal is to change the age range at ACS so it caters only for children aged from three to 11.
This would mean removing the secondary phase of the school over a period of time still to be determined (but not before summer, 2020). ACS would remain as a primary school.
The number of pupils at ACS has been reducing over recent years, while a recent Ofsted report said the school was “inadequate” and required “Special Measures”. The council says its new proposals aim to address some of these issues.
In addition, the places at ACS (up to and including Year Six) are also under-subscribed, so the council proposes to reduce the number of primary places available to 210.
According to the council, a total of approximately 300 pupils presently attend the secondary phase (which covers Years 7 to 11) at ACS, which means half of the available places are not taken up.
Education bosses say those 300 pupils could be accommodated at King James’s and Newsome High “if adjustments were made and extra places created at King James’s”.
Alluding to some of the issues that have plagued ACS in recent years, the council’s cabinet member for learning and aspiration, Clr Masood Ahmed, said one of the authority’s key priorities was to deliver “firstclass education and care” to the young people of the borough.
He urged parents, carers and the community to offer their opinions in the wake of the recent Ofsted report.
“No decisions have been made about the possible changes,” he said. “Our aim is to develop standards while ensuring there are still enough primary and secondary places.”
Principal at King James’s School, Ian Rimmer, was approached for comment.