Decision details

To approve public consultation on a proposal that the County Council should cease to maintain Clapham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School from 31 August 2020.

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

Low pupil numbers have led to concern around the financial sustainability of the school.

On 5 February 2019 Executive Members gave approval to progress a consultation on a proposed closure of Clapham CE VC Primary School with effect from 31 August 2019. The consultation commenced on 14 February 2019 and closed on 4 April 2019. During the consultation period a number of responses were received including a detailed response from the Governing Body showing a recovery plan, which they felt, along with ongoing community support, could see the school recover to a position that would enable the school to stay open. At a meeting on 30 April 2019 the Executive agreed that the proposal to cease to maintain Clapham CE VC Primary School should be stopped to allow the Governing Body to implement their recovery plan, with a formal review of the position scheduled for the end of the spring term 2020.

Following the April Executive meeting the school was inspected by Ofsted in June 2019 and was placed in special measures. The previous full Ofsted inspection was in May 2011 and the school at the time was judged to be Outstanding. The publication of the recent inspection result in September has led to a further, more rapid, decline in pupil numbers making the Governing Body’s recovery plan no longer viable. Following a meeting of the Governing Body on the 4 November 2019 the Governors wrote to the Director of Education asking the LA to begin a consultation on closure.

Under the arrangements agreed by The Executive on 25 September 2007, decisions to approve public consultation on school organisation proposals for which the decision maker is the Local Authority, will normally be taken by the Executive Members for Schools.