Primary school in Leeds likely to close despite parent protest

A primary school in Leeds is set to close at the end of the school year, as falling pupil numbers have led to a budget shortfall.

Queensway Primary in Yeadon was threatened with closure in 2022, but was granted a reprieve after parents protested.

A consultation was opened in January over plans to shut the school, which has just 72 children on the roll from a capacity of 210.

At a Leeds City Council meeting this week, all but one councillors voted in line with the authority’s report which recommended issuing a statutory closure notice.

A final decision will be taken at the council’s June executive board, and if approved, the school will close at the end of the summer term.

Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, said she had worked in schools herself for 17 years and “it is not something we would want to do”.

She said: “It’s not what anyone wants, but I will give the assurance that every family, every child will have the support wrapped around them to make this transition as smooth as possible.”

However, she said the school would be facing a budget deficit of more than £1.3m by 2028 despite efforts to cut costs.

The three-week consultation over the future of Queensway Primary was launched just days before it was awarded a “good” rating by Ofsted inspectors.

Financial pressures and a low number of five-year-olds living in the area had put the school’s long-term sustainability at risk, the council said.

Addressing the meeting, Haydn said: “There is a fall in the birth rate across Leeds and it is particularly pronounced in that area.

“I am confident we will not need to move children to other parts of the city, there are local schools with places in the area, the children will be looked after and will be given the most appropriate place by the team.”

Conservative councillor Alan Lamb said he could not support the closure notice.

He said: “This is not about numbers on a page, it is about children, parents and communities.

“It is the job of politicians to consider the human impact and take the decision.

“We all know we have serious capacity issues for children with SEND around the city

“There are a large proportion of children at this school who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

“I can’t support the recommendation to publish a statutory notice. I don’t believe we have all the possible options.”

Lamb paid tribute to the teachers at the school, who had turned its Ofsted rating around from “inadequate” in recent years.

He said: “Closing good schools should be an absolute last resort.

“I think we should pause and think again and ask the officers to look at all the other options before we come to a decision.”

Acknowledging this, Haydn said: “The school has done a fantastic job in turning an inadequate job to a good judgement and I would like to thank the staff.

“This is not a decision we take lightly but we have a particular problem with no other options.

“It would be remiss of us to not consider this school’s budget position.

“Unless more children come into the area then the school budget will stay the same and that is not good for children and families.”

Responding to the outcome, Queensway’s headteacher Mark Duce said: “We are extremely saddened at the outcome of today’s meeting and maintain our stance that our school is an essential part of our community.

“As a school our number one priority is always the children and their families and while our belief in Queensway remains as strong as ever, our focus now must lie with ensuring our children, their families and our staff receive the right support they need throughout the next phase of this consultation.”