‘Outstanding’ primary school with only six pupils set to close

A PROPOSAL to close an ‘outstanding’ rated school as it celebrates its 200th anniversary has moved forward after a public consultation failed to identify a viable option to keep it going.

North Yorkshire County Council officers have proposed Kell Bank Primary School, between Healey and Fearby, near Masham, should be closed at the end of the academic year.

The move comes after its roll fell from 45 pupils in 2013 to just six, despite having been awarded

Ofsted’s highest accolade by education inspectors.

In a report to the authority’s executive, officers said the closure would be in the best interests of the children at the school and the future education of pupils in the area.

The recommendation follows the council’s education boss, Councillor Patrick Mulligan, calling on the Government to increase cash support for small, rural schools as they are unable to achieve the economies of scale or offer the desired breadth of curriculum that their urban counterparts do.

There are 361 schools across England’s largest county with more than two in three in rural settings. The council maintains the highest number of small schools in the country, with 51 schools with fewer than 50 pupils.

The report reveals Kell Bank school is among the majority facing a cumulative deficit, which would be nearly £50,000 by 2022.

The report also identifies the relatively high cost of housing in the area as a cause for why there are only 11 primary-aged children living in the school’s catchment area.

Officers added: “In some communities, the school provides the only community space. In this case, there is a village hall, a local church and the Black Swan Inn, all nearby.”

While the recent proposed closure of other small, rural schools in the county have seen vociferous campaigns in attempts to keep them open, the overwhelming majority of villagers, many of whom attended the school, did not respond to the authority’s consultation.

Ahead of the consultation, Jeff Loveday, chair of the school’s governing board, said despite the whole school community having “given more than 100 per cent of their energy over the years into trying to keep the school viable, there has now come a time when we have to admit that with six children at school, we cannot continue”.

The report states it held two online public meetings to discuss the school’s future, which were attended by a total of 32 people, and that included council officers, the headteacher, governors, local councillors and a Union representative.

Only 12 written consultation responses were returned, of which four agreed with the closure, five disagreed and three respondents did not answer the question.

The report concludes: “There are places available at other local schools within a reasonable travel distance.

“It is therefore the view that there is a strong case for closure which outweighs other considerations.”

At the public meetings people attending suggested the historic building could be used as a continuing education facility such as a pre-school, but officers replied such a move would require funding to set up and operate.

There has now come a time when we have to admit we cannot continue. Jeff Loveday, chair of governors at Kelll Bank Primary School.