Parents fight on as Southfield closure questions remain

Pupils have put pen to paper hoping to save their school

Children from Southfield Primary Academy in Brackley have written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III asking for their help saving their school.

It was announced in October that Southfield would be closing at the end of this school year, but parents remain concerned about the lack of information they have been given.   They say questions remain as to the reasons for the closure.

On Sunday morning despite the poor weather, current and past pupils, parents, grandparents and concerned neighbours showed the strength of feeling on the closure by gathering outside the school.

Parents say they have been told that birth rates are falling and there aren’t enough children to fill Southfield, but a freedom of information request made to West Northants Council contradicts this. It reveals council predictions that the Magdalen School area will see an increase of 205 primary pupils over the next five years.

Parents questions remain over a decision by West Northants Council not to bring a SEND unit to Brackley.   They are also concerned that an historic debt owed to the now defunct Northamptonshire County Council may have been used in the decision making process, although the Department for Education denies this.

Last night members at Brackley Town Council discussed the issue and considered the responses they had received to questions raised with the Department for Education, West Northants Council and the school’s trustees.   Four parents spoke in the public section of the meeting.

The Council voted unanimously to write back pushing for more detailed answers to their questions on the rationale behind the decision. 

---

Published: 05/12/2023 02:11pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

---