Plans have been revealed to close a South Cumbrian primary school.
Falling pupil numbers at North Walney Primary and Nursery School in Barrow has prompted the move by Westmorland and Furness Council.
Although the school can accommodate up to 161 youngsters, it currently only has 22.
The authority has launched a consultation about the school’s future.
There has been a continuous drop in numbers across all year groups over recent years, the council said. In 2019/20 the number of pupils at the school was 84, by 2021/22 this number had fallen to 67 with a further reduction to 22 by 2022/23.
The number of births in the North Walney catchment area has also reduced in recent years, as it has across Walney Island.
Because fewer children are being born, the chances of significant growth in pupil numbers for North Walney School are low.
There’s also a surplus of school places across the surrounding area, with five other schools within a two-mile radius of North Walney Primary School, four of which are on Walney Island.
The low number of pupils attending the school also means the schools funding is making it difficult to achieve a balanced budget, and this is expected to become increasingly difficult in the coming years.
School budgets are directly linked to the number of children at a school and funding allocations are based on a nationally agreed formula. This means no additional financial support can be provided to the school.
Councillor Sue Sanderson, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, said: “The decision to close a school isn’t one the council would take lightly and it’s important we hear the views of everyone with an interest in North Walney Primary and Nursery School.
“Sadly, we’re concerned the school’s current financial position is unsustainable and it’s difficult to see how things will improve in the future if pupil numbers do not improve.
“As a former headteacher myself, I sympathise hugely with the staff, pupils, parents and local community surrounding North Walney School and we’ll support them throughout this process.
“Our decision to consult on this issue is also not a reflection on the dedicated staff at North Walney, who have done everything they can under difficult circumstances and will continue to do so until a final decision is made on the school’s future. ”
In addition to completing an online questionnaire, the council will host a consultation meeting on Wednesday, November 8, at North Walney Primary School.
This consultation runs for six weeks until December 12.
