Decision details

In January 2022 the Secretary of State confirmed that Baldersby St James Primary School will close in August 2022.
Executive will be required to determine the future arrangements for the Baldersby St James’ catchment area in as far as they concern NYCC maintained schools.
if there are no objections to the proposals, the Executive Member for Education and Skills
Report to Executive 12 October 2021 refers.

That from September 2022 the catchment area of Dishforth CE Primary School be expanded such that it includes the southern part of the Baldersby St James School catchment area (Rainton with Newby Civil Parish)

That the necessary application be made to the Schools Adjudicator to secure approval for this variation to the admissions arrangements for 2022/23 in respect of Dishforth CE Primary School.

During 2021 Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, supported by the Department for Education, proposed the closure of Baldersby St James Primary School. A Listening Period was conducted by Hope Sentamu Learning Trust in the Autumn. On 12 October 2021 the Executive considered a report on the situation and approved the Council’s formal response. This was to recommend that the Secretary of State and the Regional Schools Commissioner consider deferring closure of Baldersby St James Primary School for a period of 12 months for further engagement between the community and Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, to see if a credible business plan could be created. The listening period was extended and further engagement undertaken however, in late January 2022, the Secretary of State confirmed that Baldersby School will close in August 2022.

The October 21 Executive meeting agreed that in the event of closure the Council would consult on changing the local catchment area arrangements that would apply from September 2022, such that the catchment areas for Carlton Miniott Primary Academy, Dishforth CE Primary School and Topcliffe CE Academy would all be expanded from that date.

The LA is the admission authority for Dishforth CE School, but Carlton Miniott and Topcliffe schools are their own admission authorities under Elevate MAT. This means there are different processes required to adopt the revised catchment area arrangements. The County Council are required to determine the proposals for Dishforth CE Primary School. The Elevate Trust Board would consider the proposals for Carlton Miniott and Topcliffe schools.

The consultation period was seven weeks from 11 February 2022 to 1 April 2022. By the closing date of 1 April 2022 there had been no responses to the consultation.

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