Primary school with just three pupils to close

THE closure of an unviable primary school has been authorised, with councillors raising concerns about the future of other schools facing financial crisis.

St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Bollington has just three pupils on its roll.

It will officially close on December 31, Cheshire East Council has confirmed.

Director of education Claire Williamson confirmed the news at a children and families committee meeting on Monday, December 11. Ms Williamson said there could be ‘no guarantees’ that the situation would not happen again with another school.

She said: “I had a personal call with the remaining three parents on Friday and all children now have provisions and are starting their transition and have had confirmation of their school places.”

Ms Williamson added consultations were taking place with staff who were facing redundancy.

The committee was told St Gregory’s, on Albert Road, which can cater for 105 pupils, had been a ‘school causing concern’ for a considerable period.

A particular issue was its declining pupil numbers and that it has operated with a challenging three-year deficit budget.

In February of last year, Ofsted said it provided an inadequate education for its pupils.

Councillor George Hayes wanted to know how many maintained schools in Cheshire East are forecasting future budget challenges and deficits, and what interventions could be made to avoid a similar situation relating to financial viability in the future.

Poynton councillor Jos Saunders shared his concern.

She said: “I do hope other schools are going to get the support that they need to basically turn it round because I really do not want to be sat here having to make this sort of decision again.

“It’s very sad.”

Ms Williamson said the council’s officers were working with schools with regard to their financial situation during these difficult times.

She said: “We would give assurance that officers would try their hardest to ensure we are not in this situation again, however there would be no guarantees.”

Committee chair Carol Bulman said she had visited a number of schools last year ‘and there were many well-run schools in Cheshire who were fearing this year, because they felt they might go bankrupt this year, so it’s a very real problem’.

Councillors and officers expressed their regret at the closure of St Gregory’s.

Six councillors voted to approve the closure, one voted against and four abstained.