A proposal to close a small rural primary school with less than 30 pupils has been dropped following a consultation and efforts by the school's governing body to find new ways of making it sustainable. Last September, following a consultation in June and July 2021, North Clifton Primary School was given until June by Nottinghamshire County Council to find ways of increasing pupil numbers or risk closure.
Since September 2021, the governors at the school, which is rated as "good" by Ofsted, have refurbished their community room with the support of the late councillor Maureen Dobson's financial contributions - combined with voluntary contributions of finance and labour from the community. This has allowed a breakfast and after school club to be opened, which is now attended by an average of six pupils per day.
Mrs Dobson, who represented Collingham before her death in November 2021, championed the school at last September's meeting and said that it had three new governors and that Newark and Sherwood District Council had agreed to look at encouraging potential house building in the area.
A new report to the council's children and young people's committee stated that the actual number of statutory aged children has not increased since September2022. But added: "The governing body continues to be of the view that the school can continue to provide an education for children in their catchment and beyond. Projections continue to suggest that numbers will remain small, and likely to be below 30."
And committee chair Councillor Tracey Taylor said that it had been difficult for the school to increase numbers and expect parents to commit to sending their children there while a question-mark was hanging over the school's future.
Councillor Samantha Deakin (Sutton Central and East) said: "On behalf of Collingham divisional councillor Debbie Darby can we welcome the decision to pause any closure plans at this school. I know that there has been huge concerns in this rural area. "To lose this school would have a huge impact on North Clifton village, causing job losses, and disruption to pupils’ education if they had to settle into another school.
"Councillor Darby fully supports local families and parents to keep school provisions in the rural areas of her division and we are delighted that Nottinghamshire County Council have seen sense and are recommending to keep this well-needed school open. "
The report concluded that the county council will continue to work with the governing body "to continue to secure the sustainability of this small rural school".
