Last chance to have say on Sunnydale School Shildon closure

The public is being consulted on closing the site in Shildon, which will deprive the town of its only secondary school.

Residents will have until February 17 to make comments or object to the proposals, with a final decision to be made in April.

The Greenfield Community College was previously split between two sites, one in Newton Ayclife and the other at Sunnydale in Shildon.

Durham County Council leaders have agreed to rebuild the Newton Aycliffe site, costing an estimated £20m, and base the college on that single site.

Council officers said this was the “best future option” to raise standards and make cost-effective improvements.

However opponents said it would further harm a village already "overlooked" with a lack of development.

Read more: Drug dealing, off-road bikes & shoplifting in County Durham

In a public notice, the council stated the case for the plan.

It says: "It is proposed to close the Sunnydale site of Greenfield Community College on 31 August 2022 and to rebuild the Newton Aycliffe site.

"This proposal reflects the work being done across County Durham to make schools sustainable in the long term to meet the challenges in a rapidly changing educational environment.

"Following an Ofsted inspection judgement of 'inadequate’ Durham County Council closed Sunnydale Community College as a separate school on 31 December 2014 and amalgamated with Greenfield Community Arts School on 1 January 2015.

"However, since May 2017, concerns about educational standards, an unsustainable budget projection, a steady decline in pupil numbers (particularly those attending the Sunnydale site), and an accumulation of conditions backlog problems on both sites have made it necessary to review options for education provision.

"The council believes that this proposal provides the best opportunity for children, the school, and the communities it serves based on educational outcomes, pupil numbers and sustainable finances.

"Significant additional funding to transform the learning environment for all children attending the school on the Newton Aycliffe site has been secured should the proposal be agreed."

The council says Greenfield College had a declining number of pupils, currently 769.

This is above the minimum size of a financially viable secondary school, which the Department for Education (DfE) set at 600.

But across two sites, the school would be "under financial pressure".

"In addition, repeated Ofsted inspections and DfE Advisers have identified the constraints that the split site accommodation has had upon educational improvement and progress," adds the council's notice.

Read more: Newton Aycliffe college plan is Shildon's loss

The proposals were debated in a cabinet meeting last October.

Councillor Ted Henderson, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said it was an ambitious plan to invest in Greenfield and create an "amazing learning environment".

He said: “The cost of sustaining the current set-up at Greenfield is not sustainable and money has been wasted on temporary remedies. Well, a long-term solution is required.

“We are trying to give Greenfield Community College the resources and infrastructure which will secure strog outcomes and progress for the pupils.”

He said the Newton Aycliffe location was “crucial” as the area’s population made up 70% of the Greenfield school intake.

All pupils have been taught there since the Sunnydale site was temporarily closed due to health and safety concerns in January 2020. The new plan would make those arrangements permanent.

Cllr Richard Bell

Cllr Richard Bell, cabinet member for finance, said: “The current position is not tenable.

"Maintaining a secondary school in Shildon is neither in the best educational interests of the children, nor is it financially viable.”

Councillor Fred Langley from Shildon Town Council asked the cabinet to explore alternatives to “terminating secondary education" in an important historic railway town.

He argued the closure of Sunnydale would give the town an “additional handicap”.

He added a new school in Shildon “to celebrate the 200th (anniversary) railway celebration in 2025 would revitalise this town”.

Read more: Darlington Bread and Butter Thing 'to go to more affluent areas'

Cllr Shirley Quinn asked: “How can this be fair for families wanting the best for their children and Shildon not being able to offer this?”

Cllr Samantha Townsend said: “It’s evident that our children will be put at a systematic disadvantage by having no choice than to be up and ready significantly earlier than their peers in Bishop Auckland and Aycliffe.”

At that meeting, the cabinet agreed rebuilding the Aycliffe site for all pupils was the best option, and to consult on the Sunnydale closure.

Details are on the council website and people can email schoolorganisation@durham.gov.uk to request the full proposals or send in comments.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054