Decision due on closure of village primary school

The final sign-off on plans to close a primary school after six decades is expected to be made by a council later this week.

Warwickshire County Council is due to decide on the closure of Great Alne Primary School on Thursday.

There has been a backlash against the proposals, but officers have recommended approval of the scheme to permanently close the village school, which has been teaching children for more than 60 years.

If agreed, it would mean the school - which now teaches just 12 pupils after poor Ofsted ratings - was closed at the end of the current school year.

The Great Alne Primary started to be hit by falling pupil numbers in 2023, after getting an "inadequate" Ofsted rating in 2023.

Despite standards improving and a verdict of "requires improvement" being reached, the numbers continued to fall.

With a low birth rate and space available at other local schools, the council believes there is no realistic prospect of it being viable again in the future and insisted all reasonable efforts had been made to turn things around.

Objectors highlighted the need for the village to maintain the school because of anticipated growth in housing across Warwickshire in future years.

If the school closes, six pupils are set to be displaced with two others put forward for reception places.

However, a council report showed there were no reception vacancies within three miles (4.8km) – the closest is at Wilmcote C of E Primary School which is just over 4 miles (6.4km) away – but said both families would be "supported regarding additional placements".

"The council recognises the value and importance of a school within the village and the benefits that it brings," the report added.

"However, many of the children attending the school at the commencement of the statutory process were not village residents."

It went on to say: "Furthermore, future primary cohorts living in Great Alne Primary School's catchment area over the next four years are anticipated to reduce from an average of five to three per year group which is not sustainable."

It said there was only a small amount of housing currently being built nearby, and the council argued this would not have much impact on the school's viability.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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