Closure fear for rural schools as budgets and pupil numbers fall

DWINDLING pupil numbers and deepening financial pressures could lead to the closure of primary schools in the Yorkshire Dales, education chiefs have warned.

North Yorkshire County Council has admitted that it could be forced to shut or merge a series of schools as part of a shake-up in Upper Wharfedale.

The council is pressing ahead with further detailed discussions with seven primary schools in the rural area about a range of options for the future ahead of formal consultation later in the autumn term.

Seven primary schools make up the Upper Wharfedale cluster – Arncliffe CE primary, Burnsall primary, Cracoe and Rylstone CE primary, Grassington CE primary, Kettlewell primary, The Boyle & Petyt primary in Beamsley and Threshfield primary.

The review is concentrating on Arncliffe, Kettlewell, Grassington and Threshfield.

The options include amalgamating all four schools into a single institution but not necessarily on one site, or amalgamating two or three of the schools in various configurations.

Individual schools may close, but it is still possible that some provision would continue on the site.

Also under discussion is the possibility of schools choosing to federate, giving them a single governing body and a shared head but remaining as separate schools with their own budgets.

The council’s executive member for schools, Coun John Watson, said: “There is an appetite for change among school leaders in Upper Wharfedale to compensate for falling pupil numbers and financial pressures.

“A number of schools are already working collaboratively, but when pupil numbers are very low, this does not, in itself, secure stable provision for the future.

“We want to explore all the options together, to pursue the highest standards of education on the most sustainable footing.”

Arncliffe Church of England and Kettlewell primary schools already work in a loose federation under a single headteacher, and other schools have explored other options for working more closely together.

Between them, the seven primary schools in the Upper Wharfedale cluster serve no more than 347 children, projected to fall to 303 by 2014, with current numbers on roll at each school ranging from nine to 95.

No school has more than six teaching staff and most have fewer than three full-time equivalent posts.

It is particularly challenging for very small schools to maintain a broad and balanced curriculum and to provide all the necessary social and developmental opportunities for children.

School leaders and the local authority agree there is now scope for organising schools differently to provide the full range of educational and social opportunities.

According to the county council, primary schools in the area have become increasingly aware of the need to develop alternative approaches to management and possibly the organisation of schools to establish a secure basis for education and childcare in the sparse, very rural area.

A growing number of governors and headteachers hope to pre-empt the financial difficulties as they face the prospect of pupil numbers continuing to fall and difficulties in recruiting staff.

There are also challenges in providing education where numbers are particularly small and there is a lack of early years provision and childcare.

Council officers hope to have drawn up a proposal for consultation which can be presented to councillors next month.

A public consultation will follow and the county council is looking to implement any changes from September next year.