Issue - meetings

    Report by Executive Director Terence Herbert.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills presented the report which provided information about the proposed closure of the Potterne Site of Five lanes Primary School. 

Cllr Mayes explained that since 2006 the School has run Key Stage 1 classes at its Potterne site and Key Stage 2 classes at its Worton site.  Following informal consultation, the Governors of the school published a statutory Notice in January 2019 proposing to close the Potterne site from August 2019, with all pupils being taught at the Worton site. The majority of those responding supported the closure.  The Cabinet noted that, due to declining numbers of pupils, the number of classes had reduced to three across the two sites, with only one class at the Potterne site.

The Leader of the Council welcomed Philip Salaman, Vice-Chair of Governors of Five Lanes VC Primary School, who spoke in support of the proposals to close the Potterne site.

The Cabinet heard from Cllr Anna Cuthbert, local member for Bromham, Rowde and Potterne, in support of the closure. Cllr Cuthbert explained that Five Lanes Primary School provided outstanding care and learning for all the children at both sites, however the needs of the children would be better served at one site.  The desire of the younger children, currently at the Potterne site is to be with the older children at the Worton site, which amongst other things, would provide suitable play or sports areas for all the children. Cllr Cuthbert indicated that one of her children had attended Five Lanes Primary School and the other one was a current pupil.     

Resolved:    That the proposal to discontinue (close) the Potterne site of

Five Lanes Primary School with effect from 31 August 2019 be approved, with all pupils being educated at the Worton site from 1 September 2019.

Reason for Decision:

There is insufficient demand for places at Five Lanes Primary School to sustain two school sites. Surplus places on the Potterne site will be over 50% from September 2019 and the school faces a rising deficit budget if it continues to try and maintain two sites, making the school financially unsustainable.