Decision details

Following the publication of statutory notices, to determine whether to close Hackforth and Hornby, Church of England Primary School, effective from 31 August 2025.
If there are no objections to the statutory notices, this decision will be taken by the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills at the meeting with the Corporate Director - Children and Young People’s Service

The Executive Member for Education & Skills has approved the decision to cease to maintain Hackforth and Hornby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School with effect from 31 August 2025, together with the future arrangements for the School’s current catchment area.

The consultation document and the report to Executive Members on 5 November 2024 set out the key concerns. These concerns were explored in further detail in the report taken to the Executive Committee on 21 January 2025. The latest position on these issues is summarised below.

The number on roll has fallen since 2017. The school has a net capacity of 42 spaces. As of March 2025, there were 8 children on roll in the school who were all in Key Stage 2. Forecasts indicate that these numbers will not recover significantly in the longer term.

The public consultation, including the public meeting, provided a forum for people to express their views and respondents were pragmatic about the fundamental issue of very low numbers and its impact on the financial and educational viability of the school. The consultation process failed to identify a viable alternative option that would secure the school’s future. It appears unlikely that such an option could be identified in future. This report has noted that no objections to the proposal were received during the period of the statutory notice.

Local Authority Officers have concluded that closure of the school would be in the best interests of the children at the school and the future education of pupils in the area. There are places available at other local schools that are within a reasonable travel distance. It is therefore the view that there is a strong case for closure which outweighs other considerations.

From 31 August 2025 the catchment area currently served by Hackforth and Hornby Church of England VC School will be shared between Crakehall Church of England Primary School, Michael Syddall Church of England Aided Primary School, Aiskew Leeming Bar Church of England Primary School, and Hunton and Arrathorne Community Primary School. It is proposed that the catchment areas of these schools should each be extended to include the current Hackforth and Hornby catchment area, as a shared catchment area.