Closure of Dales primary school recommended for go ahead next week

In a report to North Yorkshire County Council's Executive on Tuesday, councillors are being advised to proceed with the closure - first put forward in September last year - and for provision to be made at Austwick School, five miles away.

In making the recommendation, the council's corporate director for children and young people's service, Pete Dwyer says; "In the light of the very low pupil numbers at the school, closure is considered necessary. The forecast over the next five years is for pupil numbers to fall to six or seven, with no indication that they would be likely to increase."

He adds that the forecast takes into account 'all known housing'.

Councillors will however, be asked to consider a request put forward by Horton Parish Council that the closure be put back from the planned date of April 7 to the end of the school year in July, and after the sitting of Standard Assessment Tests (SATs).

It follows an earlier meeting of the Executive in December when despite strong representations from the new governing body and the Friends of Horton School, the decision was made to publish statutory closure proposals and to invite fresh comments for a further month.

The consultation attracted 65 written responses from 42 people, on top of earlier objections, including from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Craven District Council.

If closure is approved by the Executive, the catchment area of Austwick CE Primary School - which has 47 pupils on its roll, and is also rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted,will be expanded to include the Horton children.

The school's current governors went ahead and appointed a new headteacher, and two additional teachers in January following the resignations at the end of last year by the previous teachers.

Since the start of the new year, supporters of the school have produced an action plan, including Forest School activities and 'Dales outdoors' education, including providing outdoor learning experiences to other schools.

Headteacher, Martin Bishop has commented that low pupil numbers at the school have not compromised quality of educational provision, and has actually helped.

In his comments to the council, he said:"The main determinants of educational progress are the quality of teaching provision, and continuity. If the school is allowed to remain open, I am confident that both of these elements will remain in place. We already have a stable, co-operative and very competent team who are dedicated to the children, and who would continue to serve."

The council's executive member for schools, Cllr Arthur Barker and the corporate director also carried out a visit to the school at the request of the governors.

Tuesday's meeting of the Executive at County Hall, Northallerton, is due to start at 11am.