Tiny primary school in Yorkshire Dales to close

Plans to close a primary school in the Yorkshire Dales with dwindling pupil numbers have been approved.

Fountains Earth Church of England Primary School in Lofthouse, Upper Nidderdale, has also faced financial and recruitment pressures.

North Yorkshire Council said the remaining pupils would transfer to other schools by September.

The area's councillor, Andrew Murday, said it was a "sad day" and would mean children travelling longer distances to school.

Fountains Earth is part of a federation of schools, but had only 15 students enrolled as of November 2022.

In 2017, when the school was rated good by Ofsted, there were 22 pupils.

It shares a head teacher with St Cuthbert’s in Pateley Bridge and Glasshouses Primary School.

Early last year, the school’s governing board approached the council to request consultation on a proposal to close it.

It came after chair of governors Abi Broadley said they had "exhausted all options" to save the school.

On Tuesday, following a public consultation in November, the council's executive approved the closure.

The council's executive member for education Annabel Wilkinson thanked those who had taken part in the consultation.

"North Yorkshire maintains more small, rural schools than any other local authority in the country," she said.

"Sadly, the reality is that many of our schools, particularly those in rural areas, are seeing pupil numbers reduce year-on-year.

“We have a duty to ensure every child has the best possible opportunity to succeed.”

Mr Murday, who represents Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale, said he understood "the rationale" for the closure.

"However, it is a sad day for the community and for the local children, who will now have to undertake a longer journey to and from school each day."

Statutory closure notices will be published on 1 February, which will provide the opportunity for further representations to be made until 29 February.

The closure will then be finalised on 19 March.

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