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07
Apr 2022
Future of Woodfield school uncertain as Grove Road merger dropped
A proposed amalgamation of two Harrogate primary schools is set to be shelved.
The plan would have seen Woodfield Community Primary School close and become part of Grove Road Community Primary School, which would be based across the two sites from September.
However, governors at Grove Road have withdrawn their support for the plans.
It leaves the future of Woodfield hanging in the balance, with its governors saying they need time to consider what will happen next.
They said:
Some Woodfield school parents spoke out against the merger.
The proposal had been met with shock and disappointment from some residents, who said they valued the school and did not want to see it closed. A consultation was held for parents and the wider community to enable the schools and North Yorkshire County Council to gather people's views.
However, the county council is now proposing that the amalgamation should not proceed, with a decision to be made by its executive on April 19.
The merger was put forward after Woodfield was rated inadequate by Ofsted, forcing it to look to be taken on by a multi-academy trust. Ofsted inspectors found the school was making progress, but no academy could be found to take Woodfield on.
Read more:
- Moves to close Woodfield School in Bilton to begin next week
- County council 'would give Woodfield school more time to improve if it could'
- Parents vow to fight closure of 'fantastic' Woodfield primary school
Today, Grove Road's governors said in a statement:
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for education and skills, Cllr Patrick Mulligan, told the Stray Ferret in November that the council would have liked to give Woodfield school more time, but its hands were tied by national policy.
He also said the process could be a "downward spiral", with a poor rating resulting in fewer applications and admissions, then a struggle to make the school viable.
Today, North Yorkshire County Council’s director of children and young people services, Stuart Carlton, said:
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