Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Decision approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: May 6, 2025

Purpose: The report will request approval to initiate a pre-publication consultation on the potential closure of (discontinuance of) Calverton Primary school.   This is due to the school’s declining pupil roll numbers, with no reasonable prospect of reaching pupil capacity levels that would enable it be sustainable over the medium to long term. The school has an unrecoverable financial deficit, which is likely to have an adverse impact on the quality of education, wellbeing and welfare of pupils and staff.   To discontinue a maintained school the Council must follow the statutory process as set out in the School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) Regulations 2013/3109. The first stage of the process is a pre-publication consultation to seek views from all stakeholders and interested parties on the potential closure before a statutory notice and closure proposals are published.   Cabinet will be asked to decide on the pre-publication consultation. And that subject to the outcome of the consultation, the second stage of the process (the publication of the statutory notice and closure proposals) should be delegated to the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education.   To note that the publication of the statutory notice and proposals (stage 2 of the statutory process) will set out details of the school closure which can be commented on or objected to during the statutory representation period (stage 3).

Content: Decision   For the reasons set out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:   i)  For officers to undertake a pre-publication consultation regarding the potential closure of Calverton primary school. ii)  That subject to the outcome of the pre-publication consultation, the second stage of the process (the publication of the statutory notice and closure proposals) should be delegated to the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education. The publication of the statutory notice and proposals (stage 2 of the statutory process) will set out details of the school closure which can be commented on or objected to during the statutory representation period (stage 3). iii)  To note that the decision (stage 4) on whether or not to proceed with a closure will be taken by the Cabinet at the end of the formal consultation (representation) period as set out in the statutory process referred to in the legal implications of this report.   Alternatives Considered   a)  Local Authority officers are working with schools in financial difficulty including Calverton Primary School, to help sustain and maintain their financial stability. b)  For Calverton Primary School, cash advances from LA resources and an intensive support package have been made available. The leadership of the school, working with Council officers, have thoroughly explored a range of options such as: · reducing the school's published admission number; · seeking income generation opportunities; · reducing staffing levels further; · exploring amalgamating (merging) with another school; or · the school joining a multi academy trust (MAT) c)   Unfortunately, given pupil numbers are expected to fall further, none of these options will be able to reduce or recover the accumulated deficit over a reasonable period, whilst maintaining high quality education. d)   Do nothing: This is not recommended as it would likely result in a growing budget deficit, estimated to grow by around £0.6m per annum, and the quality of education at the school would be at risk. This is not educationally or financially sustainable, and does not provide best value when dealing with budget pressures. Without 6 considering the potential closure proposal, any future write-off of this growing deficit would fall to the Council's general fund.