Hampshire County Council has announced the closure of a small village primary school located near Andover, following a formal consultation process. Their little school has just two combined classes with only 24 students. It has faltered under the state’s own assessment of educational quality, an assessment which has prompted this drastic move. The school was built to fit no more than a hundred students. It has recently felt the full brunt of damaging cuts and in May 2024 received an “inadequate” rating from Ofsted.
Despite the school’s efforts to provide a nurturing environment, parents have expressed concerns about the impact of the closure on their children’s education and the community at large. Parents have repeatedly complained that their kids are not doing well because they flourish in the close-knit, community-school-magic atmosphere the current school provides. Roz Chadd, the cabinet member for children’s services at Hampshire County Council, insisted that they did not take the decision to close the school lightly. This conclusion followed an extensive stakeholder consultation process.
At the time of this consultation, the council even received seven responses in opposition to the proposal. Chadd made it clear that the council made bold moves to defend the school. They diligently examined other possibilities for its future. Ultimately, the school was closed not on their financial performance but on the lack of educated children they were able to produce for their students.
“The closure is another nail in the coffin for village life.” – One parent
Roz Chadd said parents would receive financial assistance for replacement uniforms. This assistance arrives just as families are moving to new school settings in the wake of the closure. This change would increase costs for adding electrical infrastructure, so this measure would help offset that cost.
Chadd recognized the emotional burden of her choice. She reiterated her determination to ensure every child in Hampshire received the best possible education. She stated that the council had worked tirelessly to explore various avenues for the school’s sustainability but ultimately concluded that closure was necessary.
And the community is still dealing with this traumatic shift. Specifically, parents are concerned about how the law will affect their kids’ schooling and the long-term effects of village life. The loss of such a small, intimate, community-centered school continues to raise significant issues regarding access to and nurturing of quality educational support in rural communities.
