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Axe hangs over school with shortage of pupils

Michael Byrne
14/ 3/2006

A ROMAN Catholic primary school is facing the axe because of a pupil shortage.

Parents were informed of the proposal to shut the Alice Ingham school in Smallbridge by letter last Thursday. They are now planning a campaign to fight the closure.

The proposal has been made after discussions between the education department and Salford Diocese examined ways of reducing the number of surplus places.

In January Alice Ingham Primary had 120 pupils on its roll, 48 below its capacity.

This is less than St Gabriel's Primary which has 146 pupils, 64 less than its capacity and a surplus of about 30 per cent.

Andy Smart, from the schools service, said: "This proposal is part of a long-term strategy.

"Other schools may be affected in the future, but we don't want to name them yet in case we cause unneccesary alarm."

Councillor Jean Ashworth, a governor, said: "I have had a lot of complaints from parents who are very angry about this. Alice Ingham is in a deprived area and we need more facilities, not less."

Alice Ingham is the latest primary school to be under threat of closure.

A report to Monday's cabinet meeting will tell councillors: "The effect of too much surplus capacity is damaging.

"The closure of the schools under the first stage of the review has allowed more than £300,000 of savings to be redistributed to other schools."

The report claims the closure of Alice Ingham will save around £116,000 per year.

The school's governing body is opposed to the idea. A statement signed by chairman of governors, Father Joe Sweeney, vice-chairman Anthony Delamere and headteacher Briege Sivills is being presented to Cabinet.

It says: "Many of our children have disrupted family lives. Our small school offers a secure, stable and stimulating environment for the children to progress in their social and learning development."

Cabinet members are being asked to agree to consultation meetings being held with parents. The dates will be set after the meeting.

The results of this consultation will be considered by the Cabinet in May.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(2)


Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   Is it houses we need or schools is the debate here. It seems to me that our children cannot have the best education and need to be uproot so they can get dead end jobs because of lack of education, and buy one of these new houses they propose to build, i think not.
parent of alice ingham pupil, rochdale
21/03/2006 at 18:26
   I think it is disgusting closing schools and with more and more houses being built nearby will mean that the education authority will have to build new schools in time costing a lot more than it would to close a good school like Alice Ingham. I also think the catholic church is to blame as they could well afford to keep it open and they whinge about not enough people attending church on sundays but can you blame people for staying away when this is the thanks they give you
j mcgrath, rochdale
20/03/2006 at 11:11
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