School closure to reduce surplus places
24 January 2008
Derbyshire County Council is closing Highfield Primary School to reduce surplus school places.
The decision to close the school, at Long Eaton, was taken by the county council’s cabinet as part of its plans to tackle falling pupil numbers.
There are currently 8,979 empty primary school places in Derbyshire. In the next four years the number is predicted to increase by 6,600 places.
Surplus school places in the Long Eaton area total 23 per cent or 235 empty places. This would rise to 329 empty places, or 32 per cent in 2011.
It would cost £500,000 to bring Highfield up to a reasonable state of repair and the school would need even more money to make it suit a modern curriculum.
Listed status means it is hard to re-develop the building and the school has no playing fields.
Significant factors for the closure decision were:
In January 2007 an annual school census found there were 171 pupils at the school compared to 254 in 2002 - meaning 39% of places were unfilled.
During a consultation process the school notified that it had removed two classrooms from general use and asked for the removal of two temporary classrooms. This left a 19 per cent surplus of 39 places.
By 2011 it is expected that there will be 149 pupils - a 29 per cent surplus if the amended net capacity figure is taken into account.
Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for schools, said: “It is an exceptionally difficult decision to close a school and not one we take lightly.
“We appreciate that many people will be unhappy with the closure because they have a strong attachment to their school, but we have a duty to provide the best possible education for all of our pupils and value for money for the taxpayer.
“Surplus places cost a lot of money and mean that there is less funding available for pupils at other schools, which has an impact on the quality of education they can be offered.
“The buildings at Highfield Primary School are not suitable for modern education purposes and are difficult to upgrade – meaning further unfair expenditure which we could not justify.”
Highfield Primary School will close on 31 August 2008, with pupils offered a place at Parklands Infant School, Harrington Junior School or Longmoor Primary School.
County council choice advisors will help parents if they decide to seek places for their children at other schools. Derby and Derbyshire Parent Partnership will also be available to offer support and advice.
A review looked at the problem of surplus places in different areas of Derbyshire by assessing the:
Projected pupil numbers and surplus places
Condition and suitability of school buildings
Distance to the nearest alternative schools
Balance of faith and non-faith schools in an area
Impact on community facilities, early years education, extended school provision and social deprivation
Impact on the environment
Cabinet members also confirmed the closure of Apperknowle Primary School, near Dronfield, and Castle Gresley Infant School, as part of the county council’s plans to reduce surplus places.
(SB.23.08)
