Latest news with #PennyCarpenter
BBC News
21-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norfolk school with 17 pupils to close
A school that had just 17 pupils will not reopen in the new academic declining student numbers means Cantley Primary has been closed by Norfolk County Council and merged with Freethorpe Primary, which is also run by AIM Federation of authority warned falling birth rates both locally and nationally could see more schools affected as funding was linked to student numbers."We have to put the children's education first and we just can't see how Cantley can continue to provide a good education with so few children," said Penny Carpenter, councillor for children's services. "Next year there would have been just one class for children from year 1 to year 6 and that would make delivering a broad curriculum almost impossible."The authority added that the majority of students at Cantley had come from outside the catchment area and there were surplus places at several nearby a consultation on the merger began in May, parents argued they were not being given enough time and the trust had not promoted the school enough. On 11 July, the council discussed school sustainability amid falling numbers at its children, families and community select that, the local authority said it would work with groups of schools to help them prepare "for a future with fewer children".It was suggested schools could reduce admission numbers, change their catchment area, share resources, merge or face closure. David Hopkins, executive head teacher at the AIM Federation of Schools, said: "Our priority as a federation is to ensure that all of our children get the very best education. "Unfortunately, we just don't feel we can deliver a broad enough curriculum with the numbers as they are at Cantley."Freethorpe is a good school and we will spend the last days of term preparing children for their transition and marking the end of an era at Cantley, which has been a much-loved school for so many."This is a sad decision but we believe that amalgamation will give us a stronger, more resilient school community and is in the children's best interests." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Norfolk schools under threat because of falling birth rate
A mother says she fears closing schools because of falling birth rates will prove to be a "short-sighted" County Council has warned that with the number of children being born is falling significantly, with more schools likely to be shut down."The reality is that with nearly a third fewer pupils, we will likely need fewer schools," said Penny Carpenter. the cabinet member for children's Amira Stallion, who has campaigned against the closure of her sons' primary, said school places would be needed with major housing developments planned for the county. "I think this is a quick decision that's going to have a long-term effect," she said. The drop in the UK's birth rate is a growing concern for authorities and education 591,072 babies were born in 2023, fewer than in any year since Norfolk, a county council report explained that almost 9,500 children started secondary school at the beginning of this school at the start of next term, around 7,500 will be joining primary school. 'Surplus places' That number is expected to fall even further – to 7,000 – in 2027."We are going to see a large number of surplus places in our primary schools," said problem for schools is that the bulk of their funding depends on how many pupils they have - fewer children means less money."The financial situation in schools is very tight anyway," explained Sarah Shirras, the executive headteacher of The Hive Federation – which runs two primary schools in Norwich and Brundall."If we have a class that has only 26 children, it still needs a teacher, it still needs a teaching assistant – and that doesn't cost me any less than a class with 30 children in it."But those four children would mean you're down about £16,000 a year. So it's a huge difference as they work their way through the years." The falling pupil numbers mean that schools are more likely to be closed down for not having enough children - like Great Dunham Stallion's two sons attend the school and she has campaigned against plans to merge it with Beeston Primary, more than three miles campaign was unsuccessful and the school will shut at the end of this said it was particularly hard on her older son who has additional needs and felt more comfortable in a small school "with a family feel"."It's had a huge impact on his mental health," she said."All he's doing is worrying about where he's going to be."The Unity Education Trust, which runs Great Dunham, said it projected pupil numbers to fall from 42 to just 13 in five years."The decision to amalgamate was driven by several factors, including declining pupil numbers, the long-term financial sustainability of the school, and our commitment to providing the best educational opportunities," said the trust's chief executive Glyn Mrs Stallion believes there will be a need for a school in the area in years to come."I feel like it's short-sighted. "I know there's massive developments planned around Great Dunham that will be housing families who will need schools." Penny Carpenter said the council would be working with school leaders on how to address the problem of a falling pupil population."It won't be easy," she admitted.A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said it was "increasing school funding to £69.5bn by 2028-29, with record levels of per-pupil funding.""We have awarded 300 primary schools £37m to repurpose their spare space, as part of our school-based nurseries roll out which will increase access to early education from this September," she added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
