Agenda item

Recommendations

The Executive is asked to approve that:

 i)    Statutory proposals and notices be published on 1 February 2024 proposing to cease to maintain Fountains Earth, Lofthouse CE Endowed Primary School with effect from 31 March 2024.

ii)    The proposals include that from 1 April 2024 the parishes of Stonebeck Up, Stonebeck Down, Fountains Earth, Bewerley, and High and Low Bishopdale (the current catchment area of Fountains Earth Primary School) will become part of the catchment area for St Cuthbert’s CE Primary School, Pateley Bridge.

iii)   A final decision on these proposals be scheduled for the Executive meeting on 19 March 2024. 

Considered – A report by the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service detailing the outcomes of the public consultation carried out by the Council on the proposal to close Fountains Earth, Lofthouse CE Endowed Primary School and asking the Executive to authorise the publication of proposals and statutory notices, and to schedule taking a final decision on the proposal on 19 March 2024.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson introduced the report and provided an overview of the background to the proposal to close the school.  She also drew attention to the public consultation that had taken place and the responses received, as detailed in Appendix 7 of the report, and the proposed change to the catchment area of St Cuthbert’s CE Primary School, Pateley Bridge to serve the area currently served by Fountains Earth Primary School.

Councillor Andrew Murday suggested the closure of the school was in part due to the rural decline i.e. the lack of employment opportunities for rural communities and affordable housing for young families etc.  He also suggested there had been a complete loss of trust between the school’s governing body, teachers and the local community which had resulted in there being no pupils left within 12 months of the school receiving a good Ofsted report.

Executive members agreed these were fundamental issues affecting rural communities across the county which needed addressing through the Local Development Plan.

Having taken account of all the information provided, the Executive reluctantly agreed the reasons for the proposal to close the school as laid out in the report, were correct and that closure of the school would be in the best interest of the future education of pupils in the area.

With that in mind, they voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations, and it was

Resolved – That:

i)       Statutory proposals and notices be published on 1 February 2024 proposing to cease to maintain Fountains Earth, Lofthouse CE Endowed Primary School with effect from 31 March 2024.

ii)    The proposals include that from 1 April 2024 the parishes of Stonebeck Up, Stonebeck Down, Fountains Earth, Bewerley, High and Low Bishopdale (the current catchment area of Fountains Earth Primary School) will become part of the catchment area for St Cuthbert’s CE Primary School, Pateley Bridge.

iii)  A final decision on these proposals be scheduled for the Executive meeting on 19 March 2024.