Issue - meetings

Recommendations

1)       Statutory proposals and notices be published on 31 January 2025 proposing to cease to maintain Hackforth and Hornby Church of England VC Primary School with effect from 31 August 2025.

2)       The proposals include that, in the event of closure, 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, Kirkby Fleetham Church of England Primary School, and Hunton and Arrathorne Community Primary School. 

3)       The Executive schedule taking a final decision on these proposals on 18 March 2025.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Children and Young People’s Service presenting the outcome of the public consultation carried out by the Council on the proposal to close Hackforth and Hornby Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School.  The Executive were requested to authorise the publication of proposals and statutory notices, and to schedule taking a final decision on the proposal on 18 March 2025.

The Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, introduced the report and advised that the governing body had asked the Council to consult on the closure of the school due to falling numbers and questions over the viability of the school.  The school was expected to have an in-year deficit of £358,500 and a cumulative deficit of £81,600 in 2025/26.  There were currently only 8 children on the school roll and no viable alternative had been identified.

The Corporate Director, Stuart Carlton, referred to proposals to close Kirby Fleetham CE Primary School, which was mentioned in the report as contributing to overall capacity.in the area and confirmed that should Kirkby Fleetham school also close there would still be excess capacity in the area.

Resolved (unanimously) – that

1)      Statutory proposals and notices be published on 31 January 2025 proposing to cease to maintain Hackforth and Hornby Church of England VC Primary School with effect from 31 August 2025.

2)      The proposals include that, in the event of closure, 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, Kirkby Fleetham Church of England Primary School, and Hunton and Arrathorne Community Primary School. 

3)      The Executive schedule taking a final decision on these proposals on 18 March 2025.