Decision details

To seek approval to begin a consultation on a proposal to cease to maintain Weaverthorpe Church of England Primary School from 31 August 2022.

To approve public consultation on a proposal that the County Council should close Weaverthorpe CE VC Primary School from 31 August 2022, together with associated proposals for the treatment of the catchment area.

Weaverthorpe CE VC Primary School, in the Ryedale area, was Inspected by Ofsted in January 2020 and found to be ‘Inadequate’. The inspection report was published by Ofsted in July 2020. The Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) issued a directive academy order (DAO) in July 2020 as the school was now eligible for intervention under the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

For all schools who have been issued with a DAO it is the responsibility of the RSC to broker sponsorship of the school by a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). This MAT would then take on the governance and management of the school on conversion to academy status. In the period of time since the DAO was issued the RSC has been unable to identify a MAT that would be prepared to sponsor the school due to viability concerns. These concerns related to the low pupil numbers (currently 25 pupils on roll) and the associated financial challenges that presents. The possibility of a formal partnership with another local maintained school to sustain Weaverthorpe School both educationally and financially has also been explored both with other North Yorkshire Schools and a school federation in the East Riding. Ultimately, none of those discussions resulted in an acceptable partnership proposal for the future of Weaverthorpe School. It is considered highly unlikely that a partnership arrangement with another local school, such as federation or amalgamation, can now be identified.

At a recent meeting the Interim Executive Board of Weaverthorpe CE VC Primary School decided, with regret, that they agreed with the advice of LA officers that a consultation on the future of the School was now appropriate. Governors felt they had exhausted all options open to them to secure the future of the School following the Ofsted judgement, the issuing of a DAO by the RSC, the inability to secure a sponsor and the absence of a collaboration option within the local maintained sector.

The Chair of the IEB has written to parents to explain the current situation and why it is now considered necessary to propose a consultation. This was followed by an initial meeting with parents on 10 November, attended by officers from the LA and Diocese.

Where schools are subject to a DAO, the Secretary of State can also order that a school is closed if it is considered unviable. If the statutory closure process were not followed, the RSC may need to consult with the Secretary of State to determine if powers to direct closure for Weaverthorpe School should be exercised.

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