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Ref: 332/06 14 September 2006
Independent Body Endorses Closure Of Buerton Primary School
Cheshire’s Independent Schools Organisation Committee today (Thursday) approved Cheshire County Council’s proposal to close Buerton Primary School near Audlem.
The committee voted to bring forward the date of formal closure from July 2007 to December 31 2006.
Only 13 pupils currently attend the school. Parents will have the opportunity to transfer their child to an alternative school prior to the formal closure, if they wish.
The closure is part of the council’s Transforming Learning Communities programme – a comprehensive review of school provision across Cheshire.
Children’s Services Executive Member David Rowlands said: “The Secretary to the School Organisation Committee will write to objectors to the proposals giving a full explanation of its reasons for the decision.
“Closing any school is an extremely difficult decision and we have made it quite clear that our recommendation had nothing whatsoever to do with the quality of education at Buerton.
“Unfortunately, it had everything to do with a considerable number of surplus places in the area, and with the falling roll at this school - a situation which sadly would only have got worse year on year.”
The TLC review is the council’s response to the Every Child Matters agenda, the 2004 Children Act and declining birth rates that have left thousands of surplus places at schools across the county.
Under the Children Act, by 2010, each school working in partnership will be expected to provide a core of extended services ranging from childcare and community-based health and social care services to adult and family education, multi-agency support teams and parenting support programmes.
And by the same year, a network of 45 Children’s Centres across Cheshire will offer a range of welfare, health education and employment services for mainly pre-school children and their parents.
Consultation will take place with governing bodies of nearby primary schools regarding re-zoning of catchment areas.
Ends
RN/LJ
Notes To Editors: For more information please contact County Councillor Rowlands on 01244 300655.
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