Leeds City Council has issued a statement regarding the future of a Leeds primary school at risk of closure to a falling birth rate in the area.
The council said on Tuesday, November 15, that the consultation process on closing Queensway Primary School had finished. A decision has not yet been made, but it has acknowledged that other options had been explored, and a school in the Guiseley and Yeadon area would need to be closed because of the lower demand for places.
Many parents have been protesting against the closure, with several flagging that they feel the school provides better support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The council said it will be working with the leadership team and other schools to maintain that support if Queensway does close.
Read more: 'Devastated' Leeds residents desperate to raise £500k to stop housing development
The council also highlighted that in its June inspection, published in October, Queensway received an 'inadequate' rating from Ofsted. Inspectors said there needed to be more consistency in the quality of education at the school and support for children with SEND.
The full statement from Leeds City Council says: “Due to a significant and continued fall in the number of children being born in Guiseley and Yeadon, primary schools in this area are now facing continued lower demand for places. In order for the schools to remain financially stable and continue to meet the learning needs of their children, there needs to be a reduction in the number of available places.
“We have explored alternative options to reduce the number of school places in the area, but unfortunately the only way we can manage numbers is to consider the closure of a maintained school. Over the last few years, there has been a decline in families in the area preferencing Queensway Primary School, and there are currently a high number of surplus places at the school.
“Feedback received from members of the school community and other stakeholders through the consultation process has been highly valuable. We recognise that Queensway Primary, like many schools, offers more than just a school place, particularly for those children and families who are more vulnerable. If a decision is made to close the school, the council would work closely with the school’s leadership team, as well as other schools and services in the area, to ensure continued support for local families and secure the best possible outcomes for the children.
“In the meantime, following its recent Inadequate Ofsted inspection judgement, we will continue to support the school in developing an action plan that addresses the key areas for improvement identified in the inspection report, including priorities to improve the provision and progress for learners with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities."
Rick Ansell told LeedsLive in September that his four-year-old son Leo had joined the school this year. Rick was one of many parents protesting the closure.
He said at the time: "Leo has additional needs, and although he's as yet undiagnosed, we knew he'd be happy and properly supported at Queensway. The difference in care, proactive support and communication between it and other schools is like night and day.
"Leo has only been at Queensway for two weeks and already, the difference in him is incredible - on his first day there, my wife said for the first time ever she didn’t have anxiety about leaving him - not worrying about another call from the school or being asked for a word at the school gates etc.
"Even in the few days we’ve been part of this school, it’s abundantly clear this is not only a family of passionate and knowledgeable staff who truly care, and have real relationships with the children and their families, but a truly vital community resource.
"The easiest way to articulate the difference between Queensway and other local schools when it comes to children with additional needs, is with everyone we’ve met, it just feels vocational at Queensway… they’re there because they love their work and it matters…it’s not just a job, every child is indeed different and so is every family - and that is celebrated."
Read next:
