Statutory proposals for school closures
As set out in the establishment and discontinuance regulations the information below must be included in a proposal to close a school:
Contact details
Proposal published by North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD, to discontinue Woodfield Community Primary School, Woodfield Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4HZ from 31 December 2022.
Woodfield Community Primary School is a 3-11 school in the Harrogate area.
Implementation
It is proposed to close the school from 31 December 2022.
Reason for closure
The proposal is to close Woodfield Community Primary School with effect from 31 December 2022.
Woodfield Community Primary School was inspected by Ofsted in January 2020, who found the overall effectiveness to be inadequate and the school became subject to special measures. Any maintained school that is judged inadequate by Ofsted is required to become a sponsored academy. The regional schools commissioner has been unable to secure an academy trust to sponsor Woodfield School due to viability concerns. Where a school would not be viable as an academy, it is expected the local authority will close the school and that the secretary of state can direct them to do so if necessary.
The governing bodies of Woodfield Community Primary and Grove Road Community Primary explored with local authority officers combining the two schools in order to share the benefits of both school sites. The move would have meant Woodfield School would technically close and become part of Grove Road from September 2022. An extensive consultation process was undertaken involving public meetings and gathering the views of parents and the local community during December and January. After careful consideration Grove Road Community Primary School decided in March, with regret, to withdraw its support for the amalgamation. In light of this, our executive decided to reject the amalgamation proposal at its meeting on 19 April 2022.
Following this, the governing body of Woodfield Community Primary School has looked again at what options are available for the school, and concluded that they have now exhausted all options. They have therefore had to request that we undertake a consultation on a proposal that the school should close.
Pupil numbers and admissions
As at 7 September 2022, there are 4 pupils of mainstream school age on roll at Woodfield School.
There were 36 pupils of mainstream school age on roll at Woodfield school as of 4 July 2022 (not including Nursery): 4 pupils in Reception, 1 in Year 1, 5 in Year 2, 2 in Year 3, 8 in Year 4, 4 in Year 5, 12 in Year 6. There were also 9 nursery aged children.
The school’s age range is 3-11 years, and provision is available for boys and girls. There is no boarding provision. As of 4 July 2022, there were 11 children who had SEN support and 3 pupils with Education, Health and Care plans, and two further children were in the process of assessment for an EHCP.
Total pupil numbers are significantly lower than the capacity of the school which is designed to accommodate up to 150 pupils.
Displaced pupils
A statement and supporting evidence about the need for school places in the area including whether there is sufficient capacity to accommodate displaced pupils.
Details of the schools or further education colleges at which pupils at the school to be discontinued will be offered places, including:
- any interim arrangements;
- the provision that is to be made for those pupils who receive educational provision recognised by the local authority as reserved for children with special educational needs; and
- in the case of special schools, the alternative provision made by local authorities other than the local authority which maintain the school.
Details of any other measures proposed to be taken to increase the number of school or further education college places available in consequence of the proposed discontinuance.
- No interim arrangements have been necessary.
There are 12 other North Yorkshire primary schools in the local area. Across the local area there are places available for all the pupils currently at Woodfield Community Primary School. Details of capacity and forecast pupil numbers in the four nearest primary schools are set out below.
Table 1 - Pupil forecasts to 31/32 including potential impacts of new housing
| Schools and capacity information | Forecast based on January 2022 NOR | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | Net Capacity | Max Workplaces | NOR 2022 - Jan | Current - or + Capacity | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 | 25/26 | 26/27 | 27/28 | 31/32 |
| Bilton Grange Primary | 310 | 310 | 323 | -13 | 315 | 309 | 302 | 297 | 291 | 293 | 270 |
| Grove Road CP | 280 | 298 | 293 | -13 | 286 | 274 | 266 | 259 | 253 | 250 | 237 |
| Richard Taylor CE Primary | 263 | 263 | 275 | -12 | 275 | 269 | 266 | 264 | 258 | 254 | 242 |
| St. Robert's Catholic Primary | 280 | 300 | 279 | 1 | 276 | 278 | 272 | 271 | 266 | 259 | 250 |
| Woodfield Primary | 150 | 150 | 37 | 113 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| 1283 | 1321 | 1207 | 76 | 1179 | 1154 | 1125 | 1110 | 1084 | 1072 | 1014 | |
| School name | Housing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | Outstanding Permissions | Pupil Yield based on 1 primary-aged pupil from every 4 houses | Anticipated Position 31 to 32 | LDF Proposals where known | Pupil Yield based on 1 primary-aged pupil from every 4 houses | Anticipated Position 31 to 32 |
| Bilton Grange Primary | 2 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Grove Road CP | 265 | 66 | -23 | 198 | 50 | -73 |
| Richard Taylor CE Primary | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| St. Robert's Catholic Primary | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Woodfield Primary | 5 | 1 | 134 | 0 | 0 | 134 |
| 272 | 68 | 201 | 198 | 50 | 152 | |
Revised school catchment area arrangements that would apply, in the event of closure, from 1 January 2023.
It is proposed that should Woodfield School close, the whole of the Woodfield School catchment area becomes a shared catchment area for both Bilton Grange Primary School and Grove Road Community Primary School.
Parents have a right to express a preference for any school and, in the case of community and voluntary controlled schools, the relevant Local Authority is the admissions authority and will meet that preference provided there are vacant places or the school is happy to admit above the published admission number. In the case of Voluntary Aided and Academy schools, the local governing body decide the conditions for admission to their particular school. Where a child attends a school which is not their normal school or nearest school, parents are normally responsible for making transport arrangements.
- This is a mainstream primary, and therefore, not a school that is reserved for providing to pupils with special educational needs
- This is a mainstream primary, and therefore, not a school that is reserved for providing to pupils with special educational needs
Impact on the community
We own 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.
Rural primary schools
Not applicable as the schools is not designated as a Rural primary school
Balance of denominational provision
Not applicable.
Maintained nursery schools
Not applicable
Sixth form provision
Not applicable
Special educational needs provision
The existing provision at Woodfield Community Primary School is not reserved for pupils with special educational needs.
Travel
We and the schools are committed to ensuring that parents and pupils travel to school in sustainable way and are encouraged to walk or cycle to school where possible.
Where a child attends a school which is not their normal school or nearest school, parents are normally responsible for making transport arrangements. Eligibility for home to school transport will be determined in line with our current home to school transport policy and procedures based on each child’s home address and individual circumstances.
Consultation
The decision to consult on amalgamation was taken by the executive member for education and skills on 24 May 2022 following a request from the governing body. A consultation paper setting out the proposal was sent to parents of pupils on roll, staff at the school, as well as other interested parties and individuals. A copy of the consultation paper is in appendix 2. A list of the consultees is in appendix 3. The consultation period ran from 6 June to 4 July 2022. A set of frequently asked questions were issued to parents (appendix 4). A public consultation meeting was held on 15 June, and a note of this meeting is attached (appendix 5). There have been 87 consultation responses received (Appendix 6).
Related proposals
This proposal is not related to any other proposals.
Procedure for making representations objections and comments
Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by contacting us by 5pm on 6 October 2022.