Potential strike action over school closure plans

Strikes and legal action are being considered by union bosses over plans which could see some schools close in part of Cheshire.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has previously reported on Halton Borough Council's plans to close or merge some primary education in Runcorn in response to what it said were falling pupil numbers.

Parents and education unions have criticised the plans, with a march recently being organised at one school.

At a public meeting on Tuesday, held by the National Education Union (NEU), various measures were discussed including potential industrial action and potential legal challenges.

Debs Gwynn, Halton NEU district secretary, who also teaches in Runcorn, said: "Strike action is always a last resort, and our members don't want to be out of school."

The union's legal team would also discuss whether there were grounds for a legal challenge, Gwynn told the meeting.

A consultation is currently being held on the closure, merger or federation of three schools in the area.

The council said that as of October last year there were 6,223 primary school places available compared to 4,944 pupils on roll, equating to roughly 20.6 per cent surplus capacity across the town.

A Halton Council spokeswoman said: "In Runcorn there are more primary school places than children – reflecting a wider national trend of falling birth rates.

"Even when taking account of new and planned housing developments it is expected that this gap will widen over the next few years, creating challenges for some schools.

"It is important to be clear that no decisions have been made at this stage."

But the NEU said its position is that the surplus space should be used for increased special educational needs provision.

It said that many pupils were being transported to schools outside the area at added expense and that parts of existing school buildings could be converted – rather than closed – to provide more local places.

The meeting also heard further measures were being considered such as protests, with plans to contact more headteachers and work with other unions.

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