Decision details

That having undertaken the required preliminary checks, the Executive Member resolved that the four key issues listed in section 9 of the report have been satisfied and there can be a determination of the proposals as follows:

That the following proposal be determined:

i) To cease to maintain Kell Bank CE VC Primary School with effect from 31 August 2021.
ii) To extend the catchment area of Masham CE VA Primary School with effect from 1 September 2021 to serve the area currently served by Kell Bank CE VC Primary School.

The number of children at Kell Bank CE VC Primary School has been falling over the past few years. At the beginning of September 2019, there were 15 pupils on roll in the school. This was well below the capacity of the school which could accommodate around 50 pupils. In September 2020 the school had 6 pupils remaining on roll.

On 15 September 2020 the full governing body met to discuss the future of Kell Bank School CE VC Primary School. They resolved unanimously to ask NYCC to consult on the potential closure of the school from 31 August 2021 in light of the current pupil numbers and the lack of progress in achieving any alternative structural solutions.

On 26 January 2021 the Executive approved the publication of statutory proposals to close Kell Bank CE VC Primary School with effect from 31 August 2021. This followed careful consideration of the responses to public consultation carried out by the Children and Young People’s Service. The statutory proposals and public notices were published on 5 February 2021, giving 4 weeks until 5 March 2021 for representations to be made. Following the publication of the Statutory Notices, one comment was received by the end of the notice period on 5 March 2021. A anonymised copy of this comment can be found at Appendix C to the report.

In considering proposals, the Executive Member for Schools (as there were no objections received during the representation period), as Decision Maker can decide to:

• reject the proposals;
• approve the proposals with a modification;
• approve the proposals subject to them meeting a specific condition.