Village school could close as pupil numbers fall

A village primary school could close next year as the number of pupils on its roll has fallen to just eight.

Officers at North Yorkshire Council agreed on Thursday to proceed with a consultation on whether Hackforth and Hornby Church of England Primary School should shut from 31 August 2025.

At the council’s children and young people’s service meeting, it was noted that the school’s financial position has been affected by the number of children attending growing smaller each year.

The consultation will now begin in November and last for five weeks and a public meeting has been arranged.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson noted that the council “values our rural schools and understand their importance in close-knit communities of North Yorkshire”.

A report ahead of the meeting said officers had discussed plans to split the catchment area of Hackforth and Hornby between five nearby schools.

Four were also Church of England schools at Crakehall, Aiskew Leeming Bar, Kirkby Fleetham and Catterick, and the fifth would be Hunton and Arrathorne Community Primary.

The council’s executive will consider the consultation feedback in January 2025.

The school has had 32 pupils or fewer for the past decade.

However, enrolment numbers fell to 19 in 2021/22 and have continued to drop more each year.

Only eight pupils, including two new starters, joined the roll in September.

The numbers mean that funding has been affected and the report projected severe deficits.

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