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31
May 2023
Harrogate village school to close this summer, councillors agree
A primary school between Ripon and Boroughbridge will close this summer due to a decline in pupil numbers, North Yorkshire Council has decided.
Skelton Newby Hall Primary School will shut for good after the council’s executive members approved the move yesterday (Tuesday, May 30).
The school has suffered from dwindling numbers of children for several years and in autumn 2022 had nine pupils on its roll.
By February 2023, just one pupil remained at the school, and all teaching was taking place at Sharow Church of England Primary School, which is federated with Skelton Newby Hall.
Ofsted inspectors last visited the school in March 2020, grading it as “requiring improvement”.
A consultation on the proposed closure was carried out by North Yorkshire Council to allow parents, teachers, governors and local people an opportunity to share their views. A further statutory representation period ended on April 27. Following yesterday's decision, the school will close on August 31.
The area formerly served by Skelton Newby Hall will now fall within the catchment area of Kirby Hill Church of England Primary School, just north of Boroughbridge.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said:
Cllr Wilkinson added:
North Yorkshire has about 50 schools and academies with fewer than 50 pupils. North Yorkshire Council said it would "continue to lobby the Government strongly for fairer funding for the county’s schools".
Read more:
- Ripon MP backs villagers' £250,000 campaign to buy Skelton-On-Ure pub
- 'Badly let down' Woodfield school closure confirmed
- Boulder installed at Skelton Primary School
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