A SCHOOL has made the “very difficult decision” to close due to reduced student numbers, despite a recent conversion that undertook “a significant amount of work”.

Baldersby St James Church of England Primary School in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, was given final confirmation yesterday from the Secretary of State that the school will close at the end of this year’s summer term.

In a statement issued by the school yesterday a spokesperson for the Church of England school said the school had recently undertaken “a significant amount of work and invested resources to make the school a vibrant and positive learning environment.”

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However, despite “their best efforts” the number of pupils has reduced.

According to the school, the requirement to combine classes due to the existing and projected low student numbers has created “too significant a challenge.”

The school says it will continue to “work closely” with parents and staff and the local authority to ensure they provide the support needed during the transition.

The Northern Echo:

The spokesperson continued to stress that the school would continue to “provide a quality of education to all children at Baldersby St James” for the remainder of the year.

The full statement reads: “We have received final confirmation from the Secretary of State that the school will close at the end of this year’s summer term. This has been a very difficult decision.

“Since the conversion of Baldersby St James Primary School, we have undertaken a significant amount of work and invested resources to make the school a vibrant and positive learning environment.

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“Despite our efforts, however, the number of pupils on roll has reduced.

“The requirement to combine classes, because of the existing and projected low pupil numbers, created too significant a challenge in providing the breadth of educational experience that our pupils require and deserve.

“That is the conclusion reached working in collaboration with both North Yorkshire County Council and the Department for Education.

“We will continue to work closely with parents, staff and the local authority to ensure we provide the support needed during this transition period.

“We are committed to continuing to provide a quality education to all children at Baldersby St James for the remainder of this school year, and we would like to thank all parents, pupils, staff and the local community, for their continued support.”

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It was reported in October last year that the roll had dwindled to just 19 pupils as North Yorkshire County Council’s executive had agreed to appeal to Nadhim Zahawi to give Baldersy St Hames Primary School a 12-month stay of execution.

The news came just three years after the school became an academy and five years after the authority spent £400,000 of taxpayer’s money creating new classrooms.

 A spokesman for the trust said at the time that low pupil numbers “show no prospect of improving for many years ahead”, with predictions for demand for school places showing a steady decline until 2031/32.

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