Macclesfield: Diocese support questioned with potential Bollington school closure

By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter

21st Sep 2023 | Local News

The school pictured earlier today. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)
The school pictured earlier today. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

The future of a Catholic primary school hangs in the balance – with one councillor questioning what support it had received from the Diocese of Shrewsbury.

Pupils numbers at St Gregory's Catholic Primary School in Bollington have plummeted to just six as rumours of the school's possible closure spread.

Cheshire East's children and families committee was told on Monday the parents of three of those six pupils were also understood to be seeking other schools.

The school can cater for 105 pupils but has struggled over the past few years with declining numbers – especially after an inadequate Ofsted judgement in February of last year.

St Gregory's Catholic Primary School is located on Albert Road. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

As a result of the Ofsted report, St Gregory's now has to join an academy trust as a sponsored school but because it is a diocesan school, such a trust has to meet the requirements of the Diocese of Shrewsbury.

The committee was told no suitable trust option was available.

Congleton councillor George Hayes (Con) was clearly unimpressed with the diocese and questioned its commitment to the school.

"I'm surprised, disappointed even, that they've not committed to that long term solution… and that does leave with me with concerns about the role of Roman Catholic education across Cheshire East, should any vulnerabilities in our Catholic schools arise in the future," he said.

Congleton West representative George Hayes.

He added, while there was little choice but to proceed to consultation on the future of the school, 'I hope that all stakeholders would not this consider this as a fait accompli for the school, but rather draw on people's creativity and innovation to provide different solutions for its future'.

He later pointed out that Cheshire East and the Diocese of Shrewsbury had a shared responsibility for the school and its future.

"I find it slightly disingenuous that the Roman Catholic diocese aren't here today to give us their views directly around the future of this Catholic education in the Bollington area," he said.

Cheshire East officer Claire Williamson said there had been regular meetings right up until the committee with both the Department for Education and the diocese, so they were fully aware the decision was to be made by the committee that day.

Bollington representative John Place was elected in May 2023. He is one of two Cheshire East Councillors for the Happy Valley.

Bollington councillor John Place (Lab) said in a written statement he hoped a neighbouring academy may take the school under its wing after the consultation.

"We're now here today considering this report which may put the school on a pathway to closure or a new future," he said. "

We feel strongly that the primary faith school option should remain in Bollington and hope that some further provision is possible…"

Councillors voted to begin the official process regarding the future viability of the school – which could include possible closure – and to consider the responses to consultation at a future committee.

Macclesfield Nub News has contacted the Diocese of Shrewsbury for comment. (Image - Coat of arms of the Bishop Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, SajoR CC 2.5 Unchanged https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Shrewsbury#/media/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Mark_Davies.svg)

See Also: New Deputy Mayor appointed for Bollington

Advertise your Macclesfield event for FREE on our What's On page.

Macclesfield: Have you signed up for our Friday weekly newsletter? It contains each week's top 10 Macclesfield news stories, and one FREE exclusive article?

Simply enter your email address or on this link.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Macclesfield Nub News is a quality online newspaper which produces 20-30 stories a week for our town.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.

     

New macclesfield Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: macclesfield jobs

Share:

Related Articles

Macclesfield Town Hall, Market Place (Macclesfield Nub News).
Local News

What's on in Macclesfield this weekend: Bethlehem Casuals, Christmas cocktail event and more

Residents living in substandard housing are urged to contact their landlord in writing (LDRS).
Local News

Macclesfield residents living in substandard housing urged to contact landlord in writing

Sign-Up for our FREE Newsletter

We want to provide macclesfield with more and more clickbait-free local news.
To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following.
Help us survive and sign up to our FREE weekly newsletter.

Already subscribed? Thank you. Just press X or click here.
We won't pass your details on to anyone else.
By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to our Privacy Policy.