Macclesfield: Diocese support questioned with potential Bollington school closure
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.
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.
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 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.
See Also: New Deputy Mayor appointed for Bollington
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