Thurnham Glasson Church of England Primary School - Reasons for consultation and support available

We are consulting on the future of Thurnham Glasson Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School.

Find out more about the reasons for the consultation, what could happen next and the support that would be available for pupils, families and staff if the proposal goes ahead.

Low pupil numbers

The school has a very small number of pupils. Schools with very low pupil numbers can face challenges such as:

• maintaining a broad and balanced curriculum

• recruiting and retaining staff

• providing leadership capacity

• ensuring pupils have opportunities to learn and socialise with peers

• maintaining financial sustainability

The council must consider whether the school remains viable in the longer term.

Surplus school places

There is significant surplus primary school capacity in the Rural South Lancaster planning area and neighbouring areas. Forecasts show this is expected to continue.

Surplus places happen when there are more school places available in an area than there are children who need them.

If a closure proposal does not go ahead, the school would continue operating.

But, because of its current Ofsted grading, the school is subject to a directed academy order. This means it would be required to become an academy.

People taking part in the consultation may wish to consider whether becoming and academy would address the challenges the school currently faces.

If Cabinet decides to proceed further, a statutory proposal would need to be published. This means there would be another opportunity to comment before any final decision is made.

This would involve:

• publication of a statutory notice

• a formal representation period of at least four weeks

• an opportunity for anyone to submit comments, objections or expressions of support

• a final decision by the appropriate decision-maker

School places and support for current pupils

If a closure proposal is approved, the council would work closely with parents, carers, the governing body, the Diocese of Blackburn and local schools to identify suitable alternative school places.

The council would work with families to secure suitable alternative school places for all affected pupils.

Information about available school places and the admissions process would be provided well in advance of any closure implementation date.

Support would be provided throughout the transition process.

Support for staff

No decisions have been made regarding staffing.

If a closure proposal were approved, appropriate employment and consultation processes would be followed in line with legal requirements and local authority policies.

Staff would be fully consulted throughout the process.

As Thurnham Glasson Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided Church of England school, the Diocese of Blackburn has an important role in considering the school's future and is working alongside the Council and governing body throughout the consultation process.