Pinfold Primary School
On 11 April 2024, cabinet considered and approved the proposal to close Pinfold Primary School, Pinfold Lane, Scarisbrick, L40 8HR with effect from 19 April 2024 and repurpose the building as a satellite site to Kingsbury Primary School, Skelmersdale with effect from 22 April 2024.
Representation
Lancashire County Council carried out the statutory representation period from 19 February 2024 to 15 March 2024, following the publication of a statutory public notice.
More information is available on the future of Pinfold Primary School.
The consultation and decision-making process
| Action | Start |
|---|---|
| Cabinet approval to consult | 7 December 2023 |
| Stage 1 consultation | 15 January 2024 - 9 February 2024 |
| Report back on consultation for urgent cabinet decision whether to publish statutory notice | 14 February 2024 |
| Stage 2 and 3 publication of statutory notice and representation period | 19 February 2024 - 15 March 2024 |
| Stage 4 decision by cabinet | 11 April 2024 |
| Stage 5 implementation | Closure of Pinfold School - 19 April 2024 Repurpose as satellite to Kingsbury School - 22 April 2024 |
Background
On 7 December 2023, cabinet approved that initial consultation be undertaken on the proposed closure of Pinfold Primary School, Scarisbrick due to a fall in the numbers on roll at the school making the school educationally and financially unviable. Approval was also granted to progress simultaneously with consultation to re-purpose the building as a satellite provision attached to a specialist school within the area. Kingsbury Primary School, Skelmersdale has been identified as the school to provide the satellite provision and expand the number of special school places by up to 20 by creating additional classrooms in the satellite provision.
Kingsbury Primary School is a special school for pupils with generic learning difficulties, catering for pupils aged 2-11 and is an 'Outstanding' school (Ofsted).
Kingsbury Primary School is 6.9 miles away from the Pinfold Primary School site and by proposing to repurpose this site the local authority would be utilising a building which may otherwise remain empty. The local authority has a duty to provide sufficient school places and the decision was taken to repurpose the site as a satellite provision for Kingsbury Primary School rather than proceed with the free school presumption process. By repurposing as a satellite provision, the additional special school places required will be available sooner.
Pinfold Primary School is a community school, for children aged 4 to 11 years, located in Scarisbrick, West Lancashire and is deemed by Department for Education categorisation to be a rural school.
As of January 2024, the school had one pupil on roll. This child is due to move to specialist provision.
Regarding their financial position, due to the lack of numbers, Pinfold Primary School has been unable to set a balanced budget for the 2023/24 financial year. Current forecast position shows a circa £21,450 overall deficit at the end of the current financial year. Projections show that the deficit would increase to £53,189 in 2024/25 and £59,477 in 2025/26. Staff numbers are already at floor levels and minimal non staffing costs are already at the lowest practicable level.
The Department for Education's statutory guidance, 'Opening and Closing Maintained Schools' (January 2023) gives a reason for closing a maintained school as 'it is surplus to requirements'. It should be noted that… 'there is a presumption against the closure of rural schools. This does not mean that rural schools will never close, but the case for closure should be strong and a proposal clearly in the best interests of education provision in the area'.
Careful consideration has been given to the statutory guidance on the closure of rural schools and given the fact that there will be no children on roll in April 2024, there would be no adverse effect of the closure of this school on the local community, standards in neighbouring schools or travel/transport.
The next nearest school is St Mark’s Primary School and is 1.5 miles from Pinfold with 51 pupils on roll. The school has capacity for 105. The closest non-faith school is 2.3 miles away at Ormskirk West End. This school has 93 pupils on roll but has capacity for 210 children. St Mary’s, Scarisbrick has 87 pupils on roll and capacity for 105 children. This school is 2 miles from Pinfold. Based on current and projected pupil numbers, there should be sufficient places in all cohorts of the other schools to accommodate the pupils if Pinfold Primary School was to close.