Decision details

To seek approval to begin a consultation on a proposal to close St Hilda’s Ampleforth Church of England VC Primary School, with effect from 31 August 2024.

To consult on a proposal that the Council should close St Hilda’s, Ampleforth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School from 31 August 2024.

At a meeting of the Governing Board of the St Hilda’s Ampleforth Church of England
Voluntary Controlled Primary School on 17 January 2024 it was reluctantly resolved to invite North Yorkshire Council to commence a consultation on closure of this school.

Governors have brought forward this proposal to consult on the closure due to low pupil
numbers and an expected Reception intake of 0 pupils in September 2024 leading to
a decline in the overall number on roll. This has led to financial pressures, meaning that
the school would have an in-year deficit in 2024/25 and a cumulative deficit by 2025.
The school’s current leadership arrangement is only in place until the end of the
summer term 2024. Governors have requested the consultation at this time as they
have identified the importance of a decision on the school's future being made before
the end of the academic year.
A period of seven consultation weeks is proposed. This would take account of the two-week Easter school holiday. The final decision on closure would be taken by the Executive (or by the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills if there are no objections during the representation period).

It is proposed that the current St Hilda’s Ampleforth CE VC Primary School catchment area would be split between Husthwaite CE VC Primary School, Helmsley Community Primary
School and Terrington CE VA Primary School. This would mean the parishes of Gilling
East, Grimstone, Cawton and Coulton would become part of the catchment area for
Terrington CE. The parishes of Oswaldkirk and Stonegrave would become part of the
catchment area for Helmsley Community Primary School. The parishes of Byland with
Wass and Ampleforth would become part of the catchment area for Husthwaite CE.