A proposal to close Eskdale school in Whitby will go to a public consultation but is not a done deal according to a group fighting to save the school.
North Yorkshire County Council has approved the governors request to consult on the idea to close the Eskdale site in September 2024, and merge the school with Caedmon College.
The governors say falling pupil numbers mean the town has a 40 per cent surplus of secondary places.
Terri Ann Jones is part of the "Save Eskdale School" group she says they will present alternative ideas during the consultation process.
Eskdale, Caedmon College and Whitby Sixth Form federated in July 2019, sharing an executive headteacher and a governing body.
But the combined pressures of falling pupil numbers and financial challenges faced by both schools, prompted the proposed amalgamation.
The proposal which will now be consulted on, will involve the technical closure of Eskdale School and pupils and staff will be moved to Caedmon College, which will become a new school from September 1, 2024.
The Governors say falling pupil numbers are making it financially challenging to maintain two sites.
Terri Ann Jones from the "Save Eskdale School" group says there are alternatives to be considered.
Caedmon College has 783 pupils on roll, but capacity for 1,530, while Eskdale has 406 pupils, with capacity for 550. It amounts to a surplus of 40 per cent of secondary places in Whitby.
Members of the governing body feel the cost of maintaining three sites impacts on the schools’ ability to invest in students education and attainment. The money saved would allow them to invest in a broader curriculum which can offer pupils more opportunities and the chance to develop skills which meet their needs.
The consultation will close on March 31 and the county council’s executive will then consider the responses at its meeting on April 18, at which point it will decide whether to progress to the next stage of the statutory process.
If this is approved, then a further representation period would follow before a final decision by the new North Yorkshire Council in June.
Although a final decision would be taken in this academic year, if plans to close the Eskdale school site was made, Eskdale School would not technically close until September 2024, when the newly-named amalgamated school would begin to operate.
If plans to close the Eskdale School site are pursued, it will be returned to local authority management. Decisions about the future use of the Eskdale site would be taken after the decision to amalgamate was made. Any decision would need to consider the 3G floodlit sports pitch on the school site.
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