Brackley school to close due to lack of pupils

A primary school is to close next year because not enough parents have chosen it for their children.

The Trustees of Southfield Primary Academy in Brackley have decided the school will not be financially viable.

The school was rated as "requires improvement" after the most recent official inspection.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) said it would work with the school to keep parents fully informed during the closure process.

Southfield Primary Academy is based in Banbury Road close to Brackley town centre. It has about 130 pupils, although the building has space for many more.

It was rated as "inadequate" by Ofsted in 2019 and was upgraded to "requires improvement" three years later.

Parents and staff found out this week that the Department for Education had approved the trustees' decision to close the school at the end of the 2023/2024 academic year because a shortfall in the take up of places made the school financially unviable.

Fiona Baker, WNC cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "We understand for parents, carers and the students at Southfield Primary Academy, that this news will cause uncertainty.

"We will work closely with the school to provide information to keep those affected informed throughout this process.

"We would like to provide assurance of the work under way to ensure all children have a school place for the start of 2024/25 school year within a reasonable distance of Southfield Primary School."

SImon Weaver, a town councillor whose children attend the school, said: "The children and staff are devastated, the loss will be felt throughout the community."

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