Purpose

This report provides the outcomes of the initial consultation in relation to the proposal to close Pinfold Primary School, Scarisbrick and repurpose the building as a satellite site to Kingsbury School, Skelmersdale. Kingsbury School is a special school for primary aged pupils with generic learning difficulties. 

The Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills are asked to make an urgent decision, further to their consideration of the responses to the initial consultations, about whether to publish a Statutory Notice and start the period of representation on the proposal to close Pinfold Primary School. In addition, the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills are asked to decide whether to publish a statutory notice and initiate the formal consultation required to expand Kingsbury Primary School into a satellite on the Pinfold Primary School site.

Decision

The Leader of the County Council and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills approved the recommendations as set out in the report.

This decision should be implemented immediately for the purposes of Standing Order C29 as any delay could adversely affect the execution of the county council's responsibilities. The reason for this is to begin the 4-week formal consultation process on the 19 February in order to meet timeframes to close Pinfold Primary School and repurpose as satellite provision to Kingsbury Primary School as early as possible in the Spring Term.