AN ‘educational fund’ set up in Clapham to help save the village primary school from closure has already reached £15,000.

Following the start of a seven week consultation by North Yorkshire Council in February into the proposed closure of the school at the end of August, a village community action group was formed to help save the school.

The school, which at its last Ofsted inspection was rated ‘outstanding’ has just 28 children on its roll, and a current annual deficit of £30,000.

Iain Crossley, chairman of the action group said: “We wish to know why North Yorkshire County Council is pushing to close our school when other schools in similar positions are being supported by both the county council and the Church of England.”

Members of the action group, and area vicar, the Rev John Davies, are planning to meet with the Leeds Anglican Diocese to see what the church can do to support rural sustainability.

Members also presented their case for saving the school at a meeting with councillor Patrick Mulligan, the county council’s executive member for schools, following last week’s area constituency meeting held in Ripon.

The £15,000 raised in just a few days represents more than 20 per cent of what the group believes is needed to sustain the school for the foreseeable future.

Plans are in place to repeat the success of the community owned, award winning Clapham Village Store to offer breakfast clubs, after school sessions and early-years provision.

Mr Crossley said: “Short-term financial considerations may have influenced the council to push for closure, however, this has not fully taken account of the new homes being built in the area and the increasing number of families now living and working in the Dales.

“Parents are concerned the council is not taking the needs of their children into account. Clapham Primary School is a listed rural school and there must be a presumption against closure. Other CoE schools in the area are already at capacity and it seems to parents, their children from the Clapham area are being unfairly disadvantaged.”

Mr Crossley added that members planned to meet up with Julian Smith MP to discuss the proposals and to hopefully seek his backing that the school would stay open.

“A school is the heart of sustainable communities. Without a school the soul and vibrancy of the village is lost. We must stop the loss of any more rural primary schools,” he said.

Andrew Dixon, North Yorkshire County Council’s strategic planning manager for the children and young people’s service said: “The current consultation was only commenced after those involved with the school had, to that point, been unable to identify a future plan to address the school’s challenging circumstances. All representations and responses which are made during the consultation period will be considered.”