Leicestershire village school may have to shut after no pupils turn up for new term
A village school may have closed its doors for the final time – after no pupils turned up for the new term.
The future of Mowsley St Nicholas CofE Primary, near Lutterworth, is now being considered by its governing body.
At the start of the last school year there were 38 pupils on the roll. This dropped to 19 in May, with many of them moving on to high school this year.
Last month, county council officers said they could not be sure how many children would turn up for the start of the new school year as parents were not required to tell the authority if they had taken up a place.
The authority has temporarily closed the school.
Mowsley resident Pauline Dawes, a former secretary at the school who retired three years ago, called it the "end of an era".
"At one time there was a waiting list for the school," she said.
"It's very sad news. I understand it was a fragile situation and in a rural school numbers can go up and down. Everyone knows it hasn't reopened.
"It's like the heart of the village has gone.
"We won't have a nativity here for the first time at Christmas or a harvest festival when the children would usually put up lots of decorations and send donation boxes to villagers."
County councillor Graham Hart, a governor at the school, said: "Numbers had dwindled and the village is dormant as far as new parents are concerned.
"Schools have to be self-sufficient and a certain number are required to keep it running.
"There are also financial concerns when numbers are low and overheads are fixed.
"Parents have to consider provision for the future and there are several other good primaries nearby with good facilities.
"We'll be consulting residents on its future."
Two teachers from the school have found alternative posts.
A council spokesman said: "The council's policy is to support small rural schools and we will be offering guidance to the governing body."
Marlene Branagh had been overseeing the school over the past year due to the ill health of head teacher Diane Miller.
Her contract has now run out and Mrs Miller has retired.
Mowsley was last inspected in May when it was deemed satisfactory by Ofsted.
Councillor Brian Smith, from Harborough District Council, who visited the school often, added: "It's very sad the school has shut. I'd been there on many happy occasions."
7 Comments
by m lafferty, leicester
Tuesday, September 14 2010, 12:54PM
“As a parent at this school for five yrs up until july 2010, i feel that the full story hasnt been told. After a meeting in june with the governors,L A, and teachers we were advised that the school would not open its doors in sept if an head teacher could not be found. The following day we recieved a letter advising us that the only two full time teachers were also leaving at the end of the summer term. The school had also given up the use of the village hall which accomadated the ks2 children. We then had a letter sent out asking if we would be bringing our children back in september . As far as the comments to "bad mannered parents" the facts as there is many were not told . I wonder why ?”
by C.E. Ing-thefunnyside, mowsley today -but who knows tomoz
Thursday, September 09 2010, 3:27PM
“those Victorian bricks have to be worth a quid each . The planters look late 20th century though, maybe 2009, ex Wilkos.
I'd value them at 20 peonies each..
oh well..as Alice said
" schools out for summer"”
by MA, considering Mowsley
Thursday, September 09 2010, 2:40PM
“I'll offer £200,000 if it comesc with planning permission to convert the building into residential use.
(or £220,000 for a caravan site)”
by CGLee, near Melton
Thursday, September 09 2010, 11:26AM
“Obviously, with no pupils at all, this school has to close permanently with immediate effect and the teacher either made redundanty or re-employed elsewhere.
Clearly the situation where a school does not know which pupils will be starting at ther beginning of term is rediculous and, frankly, for parents not to accept or decline an offered place is nothing more or less than bad manners, whether it is a legal requirement or not. This situation needs addressing immediately as it cannot be allowed to continue into the next academic year.”
by Alan5547, leics
Thursday, September 09 2010, 10:30AM
“Spot on Kulgan.
How absolutely ludicrous that, in times of trying to reduce the burden on Leicestshire rate payers, a school opens without knowing whether it has any pupils, what the ages of the potential pupils might be, whether there are any special considerations needed to help individual pupils.
One assumes the employed teacher is being paid ?
Totally ridiuculous.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Thursday, September 09 2010, 9:59AM
“Perhaps getting parents to confirm their acceptance of school place allocations would be a good idea for the future?”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire.
Thursday, September 09 2010, 9:58AM
“There is obviously no need for a primary school in Mowsley and with only 19 pupils before it was a difficult situation to defend.
The best option would be, in these times of austerity, for the Education Authority to sell the property for residential housing in order that no more public funds were wasted.”