Review ordered into all of county's schools

SCHOOL closures are not off the table in Teesdale amid an education shake-up across County Durham.

A report re-examining provision was considered by Durham County Council’scabinet and it cast a shadow over schools running a budget deficit and those with falling numbers.

Authority bosses have indicated all options will be considered, including closures, in a bid to cope with “increased pressures” on budgets and changes to central government funding formulas which will place more emphasis on pupil numbers.

Those with falling rosters will come under the microscope and “reorganisations” of management structures are expected on the back of the review.

Shared headteacher arrangements, multi-academy trusts and federations are just some of the solutions being touted for those deemed to be struggling.

Focus will initially be on Wolsingham and Wingate which face “significant financial challenges” according to the county council.

But the overhaul is expected to spread county-wide in 2018 and is due to go on until 2020.

Factors to be taken into consideration in the review include a school’s financial position, its exam results, projected pupils numbers and the state of its buildings.

Transport costs of any changes, leadership and house builds expected nearby are also due to be taken into account.

Cost saving options for those earmarked by the review could include sharing headteachers to save £40,000 to £50,000 on salaries and schools renting out their premises to generate more income.

Amalgamations, “through-schools” and free schools are on the table as well as closures and part closures.

Cllr Richard Bell thought it better to have the review now rather than wait for funding changes to kick in.

He did, however, have some misgivings about how funding has shifted to follow pupil numbers in recent years.

“The best way for small schools to respond is by reducing fixed costs by sharing head teachers and back office services,” he added.

“We have an example of this with Forest sharing its head with St John’s Chapel and Rookhope.

“If we do the review now we should be able to identify further such opportunities down the line, and make plans to take them.”

Cllr Olwyn Gunn, county cabinet member for children and young people, explained schools running budget deficits were no longer sustainable and further action was needed.

She added: “Whatever options we may look at as a result of the proposed review, the emphasis must be on ensuring enhanced educational provision for young people.

“It is also essential that pupils, parents, schools and other stakeholders are involved from the early stages of any review.”

The new National Funding Formula (NFF) due to be introduced in April will see the Government allocate funding for schools rather than local authorities.

Primary schools are set to get £3,500 per pupil a year while secondary schools are due £4,800 per student.

Extra cash and lumps sums will be given to schools in rural and isolated areas but there are worries the measure would not compensate for all losses.

Cllr Bell added: “The days of villages having their own small schools and head teachers are coming to an end, but by spreading fixed costs there should be no reason for DCC to propose closures.

“I will certainly fight hard to keep all our schools in place.”

Teesdale is no stranger to closures.

Startforth Morritt Memorial Primary School was closed last year – with county officers pointing to falling numbers and declining standards as reasons its demise.

But Forest-of-Teesdale School was saved in 2016 after a heartfelt campaign from dale folk hit back at closure proposals.

The report added: “There is a presumption against the closure of rural schools, which usually have low pupil numbers.

“This does not mean that a rural school will never close but the case for closure should be strong and in the best interests of educational provision in the area.”