Consultation starts on plans to close £15m flagship school

Hull Council’s cabinet agreed last month to consult on plans to close Endeavour by August 31, 2015.

The move follows a failure to find a strong academy sponsor to take over the struggling secondary, which was placed in “special measures” for the third time in its short history last year, and is also beset by other problems, including falling pupil numbers.

About 500 pupils are currently enrolled at the 1,200-capacity school, and this figure is expected to drop even further.

The school also has many pupils whose first language is not English, and has the highest proportion of groups other than “white British” in the city – a figure that was 39.3 per cent in 2011, and 45.5 per cent last year.

Closure would nonetheless cause some embarrassment for education officials in the city.

Endeavour opened just over a decade ago in £15m purpose-built premises in Beverley Road, and was meant to herald a fresh start for education in the city, which has been plagued by poor performance.

As well as seeking views on the potential closure, the consultation is also inviting proposals for the future use of the site.

Coun Rosie Nicola, portfolio holder for learning and skills, said: “We are keen to hear views regarding the future of the school.

“The consultation will be as open as possible and I would encourage anyone with an interest in the school to contact us with their views.

“Any proposals will be based on the views expressed during the consultation and will be developed with the best interests of pupils at heart.”

Closure would mean pupils in years seven, eight, and nine transferring to new schools for September 2014, but year 10 pupils would be able to complete their studies at Endeavour.

The council said the consultation will “seek to understand the impacts of this on pupils, parents and carers, families and the local community”.

A report to cabinet warned the school may soon become unsustainable, both educationally in the curriculum it can offer, and financially, with projected annual losses of £1m by 2016.

The outcome of the consultation will go before the cabinet in January.

If formal closure proposals are then made there would be a further six-week consultation.