Low admissions - how long can a school survive

[Orangesandsatsumas]

Our children attend a very nice infant school. We can't fault it. The teachers are brilliant and it's a lovely environment. Only with low birth rates and a declining family aged population in the village, admissions are low. I'm wondering how long an infant school can survive without the numbers? This will be the second year of low admissions (probably - numbers aren't out yet). The previous two years' were full or near enough full. It's a one form entry.

By 'low' I mean less than half infant class size limit for 2023 year, possibly only a third full for 2024.

Hard to say, will depend on other local schools and their capacity. Dd went to a small village school, 7 in her year, a few years below here there was only one child in one intake. That school is still going strong 15 years later, in fact numbers are up now.

You might want to ask for this to be moved to an education board and not the radio one. You will get better responses there.

I read expecting it to be a plot in a radio play or something like that.

Oh wow! One child! This is an infant school. It seems mad that in the space of a few years it will have gone from 90 to quite possibly 50. All infant schools in the area appear to be similar for last year

Whoops! I've no idea how that happened. Sorry. I'll ask for it to be removed. I don't think I even realised there was a radio board! I'll have a read of it now.

I would imagine they may consider combining classes as a first step. There would need to be a consultation prior to closure.

I agree, combining classes would be the first step.
The school could also federate with another primary to reduce costs, eg share a head, senco, planning, training days.

DDs school is actually growing in size but recently has just 3 classrooms spread over 7 years with around 12 in year.

Wheres the junior school?
And the alternative infant schools?

Agree it would probably depend on location and capacities of other local schools. And yes combining classes would be a likely first step.

One of my relatives used to teach in a small village school that had less than 30 children in the whole school, but this was in a very rural area with the next nearest primary school being a considerable distance away.

As an infant school though with only 3 years it will be more at risk.

When you say infants do you mean primary school, so up to 11? Or do you mean a nursery school? If it's a primary school I really wouldn't worry about numbers, the village school my dc went to had constantly fluctuating numbers. It's just had a 'bulge' year start reception. If it's a proper village (as opposed to a small town) then it's not unusual for the demography to change from young families to older families to more senior citizens. Catchment of village schools is normally quite wide, and if it's a good or outstanding school, a number of parents will be happy to commute, providing it runs breakfast and after school clubs. If the school doesn't offer wrap-a-round care then, yeh it won't attract the parents and might close. personally I think the panic about a shrinking population is ridiculous when I was at school the Uk population was 56mil (showing my age here). It's currently just over 67 mil. The village school has survived since 1890s...so unless owning a car becomes prohibited, or the local town school expands (unlikely in current circs) I think it's unlikely to close.

Didn't realise infants was only three years. We don't have any infant schools in our area. I guess that changes things, but possibly more because parents may not want the upheaval of moving their kids?

It will depend on the area and capacity of other schools. Some rural schools are protected from closing even with tiny classes.

Before closing they can merge classes and share things like a head teacher with other local schools.