Primary schools at Dunswell and Gembling face closure - and more could be at risk
TWO East Riding schools are facing the threat of closure this summer and more could be at risk as a result of a new national funding regime.
East Riding Council is warning the financial safety net for small schools will disappear under new rules on how funding is allocated.
Dunswell Primary School, near Beverley, and Gembling Primary, near Driffield, are at risk of closure at the end of the summer term.
Unions are warning more small schools could also be in jeopardy as a result of national funding changes that come into force in April.
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Chris Leeman, branch secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "There are about 30 very small schools in the East Riding but the ones under threat at the moment are among the smaller schools.
"We are very concerned."
John Killeen, branch secretary for the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I think this is the start, sadly, of a number of small schools that will have to look at their future viability.
"Under the new funding formula there are winners and losers. It is not exclusively a large, middle or small school situation. There are other factors to take into account."
Mr Killeen, who is the head of South Cave Primary, warned a minimum funding guarantee could disappear in two years' time, putting yet more schools in jeopardy.
The council is consulting governors and parents over the possible closure of Dunswell and Gembling primary schools this summer.
Paul Butler, inclusion and access manager at the council, said: "The introduction of this new national formula will take away the ability of the council to include local factors to reflect the situation of schools in the East Riding.
"The consequences of the changes will have a significant impact on schools in our area and mean many will face a reduction in their budgets.
"As schools in the East Riding already receive one of the lowest funding levels in the country, this will mean many schools will struggle financially and some may no longer be viable."
The authority is the eighth worst-funded in the country and is having to look at how many schools it can justify maintaining.
Gembling, which would have just 26 pupils for the next academic year, faces going into the red under the new funding regime.
Dunswell Primary is financially viable but 75 per cent of its 88 pupils are from outside catchment area, including Hull.
9 Comments
by Agingcowgirl
Thursday, January 31 2013, 9:14AM
“If the councils did away with the posts of a few chief execs etc, they could afford to use more money for the services they are supposed to provide. Too much money seems to be used to pay big wigs who don't seem to actually do much, apart from pose for pics with spades in local papers.”
by Oldschool
Monday, January 28 2013, 5:34PM
“This is a knee jerk reaction to Government policy funding changes.
The East Riding Council have not considered the effect this will have on pupils, families or communities.
I believe this is the thin end of the wedge, If the Council continue to cut spending further, all small schools will close within a few years, for the benefit of large town schools like;
Endeavour School, 10 years old and soon to be flattened.
Perronet Thomson School, built 1988, closed 1999, flattened 2011.
Note to Government and Council Officials, it's not small schools that need closing, it's LARGE ONES that are failing! small schools and small class sizes work.
Education needs to go back to the old system now!
Remember poor education and poverty go hand in hand, have you not seen Jeremy Kyle shows?”
by savedunswell
Saturday, January 26 2013, 9:03AM
“To suggest closure of Dunswell Primary is just criminal in my opinion this school is over subscribed and in the black finacially not many school can claim that! Dunswell primary is the heart of a community . WHY close a thrieving school with fantastic values and teaching ? These kids are our future and cut back on essential areas as education is just wrong .The government state that Hull and the East Riding are low on the national average on school league tables but yet the LA want to close in my opinion THE BEST school in the area is just stupidity ..
these kids need stabitily and deserve it !
how about cutting back on councils spending on their lunch meetings budget not cut backs on GOOD schools”
by Woodhey
Thursday, January 24 2013, 3:58PM
“Gembling???
I thought that was what the grandees of Beverley did once a year when they went to the bookies to put 50p each way on the favourite.
Gets coat and leaves quietly.”
by CCitizen
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:27PM
“Shocking and outrageous.”
by HOSchool
Thursday, January 24 2013, 12:13PM
“The reason Hull children attend this school is because there are NOT enough spaces in Hull schools round the area, Plus Dunswell is only 1/2 mile from the Hull boundary.
Don't these people who sit in offices getting paid lots of money think of other things rather upsetting the children and families of people who attend these schools.
This is a really nice school with a community no child is a number to all the staff who work there as they are valued pupils.”
by trevmille
Thursday, January 24 2013, 11:41AM
“How can they justify closing Dunswell Primary? This is just ridiculous.
East Riding LA are obviously having a go at the Hull LA, because some children from Kingswood and Beverley Road areas attend the school and have been maintaining and swelling the numbers at the school for a number of years. What do they expect Parents to do, I thought it was this Governments policy to give parental choice regarding education.”
by minilynne
Thursday, January 24 2013, 10:06AM
“The fact that Dunswell primary is on the border of Hull and East Riding maybe something to do with the fact that it's children come from the East Riding AND Hull. The school is popular, over subscribed, financially viable, well managed and in good condition so there is NO other justification for looking at closing it. The staff do not teach or treat the children any differently so why should the council. Education Apartheid!!”
by PatrickNewman
Thursday, January 24 2013, 9:44AM
“So much for education not being cut. So much for parental choice.”