Concerns over primary school closure dismissed

A final bid to save a primary school from closure has been dismissed.

Great Alne Primary School in Warwickshire had seen pupil number fall since 2023 and currently teaches just 12 pupils.

Warwickshire County Council decided it should close at the end of the school year, but that decision was challenged on Wednesday by Lib Dem and Green councillors.

They had argued a computer glitch meant the full level of interest in the school had not been recorded, but members of the council's Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee rejected that concern.

The Reform-led council had taken the decision to close the school after hearing of the declining pupil-numbers and of unsuccessful efforts to turn them around.

Objectors had argued the school could grow again, with anticipated growth in housing across Warwickshire in future years.

Led by James Norris, the Lib Dem councillor for Alcester, the council was challenged over potential pupil numbers for the school.

The Lib Dems and Greens pointed out the system used by parents to submit their preferences for reception-age children did not include Great Alne as an option for the first 19 days of the last 76-day window.

The school was also not included as an option for parents who might have wanted to move their child there mid-year.

They argued this could have artificially worsened the school's position ahead of the closure decision.

But their objections were voted down by a margin of five to four, with three Reform councillors, a Conservative councillor and one co-opted member all voting to move ahead with the closure.

They agreed the decline in pupil numbers and impact on financial viability was too much to ignore.

John Waine, the Reform UK member for Bulkington and Whitestone, said: "No one who values community spirit wishes to see a local school close, especially those in a traditional village setting.

"However, we live in strained times economically and financially speaking and we can't ignore economic reality."

There are no Warwickshire County Council elections, but elections will take place for Rugby Borough Council and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council on Thursday 7 May.

These councils are known as lower tier authorities – dealing with community-focused issues like waste collection and planning decisions.

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