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24

May 2022

Last Updated: 23/05/2022
Education
Education

Bilton has 'sufficient primary places' if Woodfield school closes

by John Plummer

| 24 May, 2022
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Most nearby schools are currently full but North Yorkshire County Council thinks there will be sufficient capacity to cope if Woodfield closes.

woodfieldschool
Woodfield Community Primary School, Harrogate.

Education officials have said there should be "sufficient primary places" in Bilton if Woodfield Community Primary School closes, even though most nearby schools are full.

A report to councillors today will recommend they approve beginning a consultation on closing Woodfield by December 31 this year at the earliest.

The report recommends the consultation is shortened from the usual six weeks to four weeks because of "the urgency of the position and the need to provide as much clarity as possible to parents before the summer holidays".

It says parents and carers of the 37 pupils remaining at Woodfield will be asked to apply for the preferred school that they would like their child to transfer to in the event of closure, adding:

"Once the full picture of all preferences is known, the local authority would liaise with the schools regarding potential allocations, and seek to meet the highest stated preferences wherever possible."






Read more:



  • Woodfield school closure 'an absolute disgrace', says union

  • Bilton community centre to offer free meals as cost of living hits hard






Woodfield has a capacity of 150 pupils — 113 more than it currently caters for. Many parents have moved their children amid the ongoing uncertainty.

Nearby schools full


Nearby Bilton Grange Primary School, Grove Road Community Primary School and Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School are all currently operating beyond capacity, the report says, while St Robert's Catholic Primary School is one pupil below capacity.

Woodfield's closure would therefore put pressure on nearby schools but the report to councillors at tomorrow's North Yorkshire County Council children and young people's service committee says:

"There are no significant housing permissions within the Woodfield school catchment area, although there are several housing developments underway or planned in neighbouring school catchment areas.
"If the closure proposal went ahead, there would be a reduction of 150 primary school places available in the local area.
"Given current forecasts, including the likely demand from new housing, and current patterns of parental preference, there would appear to be sufficient primary places available in the local area, should the closure of Woodfield school be approved, as overall birth rates are falling in Harrogate district, and pupils living in the Woodfield school catchment area already attend a wide variety of primary schools."


The report says pupil numbers determine school funding and Woodfield is forecast to have a budget deficit of £97,000 this year and a cumulative deficit of £229,000 by 2023/24.

Future of site unclear


A decision on the future of the school site has yet to be made. The report says:

"The county council owns the school site, which also accommodates Bilton and Woodfield Community Library, Harrogate Bilton children and family hub, and Oak Beck House.
"Decisions about the future use of the school premises will be taken after the closure proposal has been determined."


Woodfield was rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2020. It subsequently failed to find an academy sponsor and a proposed merger with Grove Road fell through this year.