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Jun 2022

Last Updated: 10/06/2022

Education

Public meeting next week over future of Woodfield school

by Vicky Carr

| 10 Jun, 2022

Education officials plan to close the school on December 31 and have suggested Woodfield's catchment area could become part of that of Grove Road or Bilton Grange primary schools.

Woodfield Community Primary School, Harrogate.

A public meeting will be held next week over the future of Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has vowed it will take parents' views into consideration as part of a consultation over a possible closure of the school.

The authority has now confirmed the closure would take effect from December 31 this year.

It has announced three options for future school allocations: the Woodfield catchment area could become part of that of Grove Road or Bilton Grange primary schools, or it could be split or shared between the two other schools.

The meeting will take place at Woodfield school on Wednesday at 6pm.

Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, member for education and skills at NYCC, said:

“Woodfield Community Primary School governors, together with North Yorkshire County Council, have worked extremely hard to find a solution which would see the school remain open but, sadly, this has not produced any viable options.

“During the consultation we will listen to parents’ views; we will also review the opinions of other groups involved with the school. Everyone will be given the opportunity to contribute.”

NYCC said it would welcome any views on its proposals, or alternative plans being put forward. All contributions will be part of a formal review which will be considered by the council's executive before a final decision is made.

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News about the consultation over the proposed closure was announced last month, ending months of speculation about the school's future.

It followed its last Ofsted report labelling the school 'inadequate' in January 2020. Woodfield was then forced to try to find an academy to join.

Governors were in negotiations with nearby Grove Road Community Primary School, but a planned amalgamation to take effect from September fell through this year.

Woodfield's governors said they had "exhausted all options" and were left with no choice but to consult over the closure.

Parents have protested to keep the school open.

As well as attending the meeting on Wednesday evening, parents can take part in the consultation on the council's website.

Part of the consultation will include asking parents of current pupils to state their preference for an alternative school for their children to attend, either following any decision to close Woodfield, or sooner if they prefer.

A council spokesperson said:

"The overall intention will be to ensure fairness around the school transfer process in the event that a decision is ultimately taken to close the school.

"It will allow the local authority to apply consideration of admissions criteria to each request and avoid allocating places on a first-come, first-served basis."

The authority said its admissions team is always happy to give advice to parents and can be contacted at schooladmissions@northyorks.gov.uk.

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Public meeting next week over future of Woodfield school

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