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School closures recommended following consultation
17 January 2008
Members of Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet will be recommended to close two primary schools and an infant school as part of plans to reduce surplus school places.
Public consultations have been held about plans to close Highfield Primary School in Long Eaton, Apperknowle Primary School, near Dronfield and Castle Gresley Infant School.
The proposals were made as part of the county council’s plans to reorganise primary schools to tackle the problem of falling pupil numbers and reduce surplus places throughout the county.
Councillors will be asked to make the decision to close the schools at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday 22 January.
There are currently 8,979 empty primary school places in Derbyshire. In the next four years it is predicted to increase by another 6,600 extra spaces.
The council is working to find the best way of dealing with the impact on schools to make sure:
• all pupils get a high standard of education no matter where they live in Derbyshire
• it doesn’t cost a lot more to educate pupils at some schools than others
• tax payers are getting the best value for money
• money is spent on pupils and not on maintaining buildings that aren’t being fully used.
If the cabinet decides to follow the recommendations the authority will support parents in finding alternative schools for their children.
County council choice advisors will help parents make informed decisions about their children’s school places and the Derby and Derbyshire Parent Partnership will also be available to offer support and advice.
Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools, said: “We have carried out a thorough public consultation and considered the responses we received very carefully.
“But after giving the matter serious consideration we believe our best course of action is to recommend closure to help us tackle the problem of surplus places and make sure we’re providing all pupils in Derbyshire with the education they deserve.
“We have looked closely at all the options available to us and reduced surplus places by turning spare rooms into IT suites, staff rooms and other specialist learning areas wherever possible.
“But there are no easy answers to this problem – which is something councils across the country are working on.
“We do appreciate that some people will be unhappy with this recommendation as they have an attachment to their school but we are making it because we have to be fair to all Derbyshire pupils.
“Schools with a lot of surplus places cost much more and mean there is less money available for pupils at other schools, which has an impact on the quality of education they can be offered.”
The review of primary schools has 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 existing 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.
(REF:FW.15.08)
Members of Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet will be recommended to close two primary schools and an infant school as part of plans to reduce surplus school places.
Public consultations have been held about plans to close Highfield Primary School in Long Eaton, Apperknowle Primary School, near Dronfield and Castle Gresley Infant School.
The proposals were made as part of the county council’s plans to reorganise primary schools to tackle the problem of falling pupil numbers and reduce surplus places throughout the county.
Councillors will be asked to make the decision to close the schools at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday 22 January.
There are currently 8,979 empty primary school places in Derbyshire. In the next four years it is predicted to increase by another 6,600 extra spaces.
The council is working to find the best way of dealing with the impact on schools to make sure:
• all pupils get a high standard of education no matter where they live in Derbyshire
• it doesn’t cost a lot more to educate pupils at some schools than others
• tax payers are getting the best value for money
• money is spent on pupils and not on maintaining buildings that aren’t being fully used.
If the cabinet decides to follow the recommendations the authority will support parents in finding alternative schools for their children.
County council choice advisors will help parents make informed decisions about their children’s school places and the Derby and Derbyshire Parent Partnership will also be available to offer support and advice.
Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools, said: “We have carried out a thorough public consultation and considered the responses we received very carefully.
“But after giving the matter serious consideration we believe our best course of action is to recommend closure to help us tackle the problem of surplus places and make sure we’re providing all pupils in Derbyshire with the education they deserve.
“We have looked closely at all the options available to us and reduced surplus places by turning spare rooms into IT suites, staff rooms and other specialist learning areas wherever possible.
“But there are no easy answers to this problem – which is something councils across the country are working on.
“We do appreciate that some people will be unhappy with this recommendation as they have an attachment to their school but we are making it because we have to be fair to all Derbyshire pupils.
“Schools with a lot of surplus places cost much more and mean there is less money available for pupils at other schools, which has an impact on the quality of education they can be offered.”
The review of primary schools has 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 existing 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.
(REF:FW.15.08)
