Primary school with one pupil forced to close after 150 years

A PRIMARY school is to be permanently shut this summer – after admitting it only has one pupil.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, in Cockermouth, Cumbria, has suffered from budget issues because it only has one youngster and is unable to recruit a head teacher.

Rapidly falling pupil numbers have meant that in January 2022 just four pupils were attending the school and now the number is just one.

Last week Cumbria County Council’s cabinet finally agreed that the school, which has existed for nearly 150 years, would close in August.

On its website, the school described itself as a “small school with a family feel where individuals are valued and helped to achieve their personal best.

“Children are supported in becoming confident and independent young people, who thrive on challenge, and are motivated to learn.

“We believe that the ‘special feel’ at St. Joseph’s comes from our caring, supportive and friendly environment.”

Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning Cllr Sue Sanderson said the school was “unsustainable” as the board of governors has been unable to appoint a headteacher.

Cllr Sanderson said a number of options were looked at including merging the school with others.

She added: “There are, very importantly, sufficient places in the area to accommodate expected future demand.”

“We looked at leadership and alternative methods of leadership, such as federating with another school.”

She said St Joseph’s was struggling to improve on a “Requires Improvement” Ofsted rating.

Cllr Sanderson said that 24 responses were made to a public consultation in January 2021.

Six were in favour of closure and the governing body said that there was “no alternative”.