News

SELSTED SCHOOL SAVED

It has been announced today (15 September) that Selsted Church of England Primary School has been saved from closure and the proposed merger of Morehall and Harcourt primaries will not now take place.

The county council's Primary Strategy was drawn up to reduce the 14,200 empty primary school places in Kent, but  with overwhelming opposition to the plans, KCC has so far  decided to reprieve seven of the 12 schools earmarked for closure.

Selsted school waged a huge campaign to fight the proposals, and the pupils recorded their song 'Save Our School' which they performed o­n national TV's Richard and Judy Show.

Explaning the decision to keep the school open, KCC Cabinet Member for Education and School Improvement John Simmonds said: “The issue has been complicated by the community facilities adjoining the school which could provide an additional major financial cost of up to £500,000 repayment to the New Opportunities Fund.

“The results from this year’s Key Stage tests are disappointing and they fell well short of the school’s own expectations. The new headteacher will be charged with the responsibility of improving these in a quick time frame because we want to see the school succeed. Without this improvement it is unlikely that the school would attract sufficient pupils to make it financially viable in the longer term.

“The very good work the school does with children with special needs is recognised but overall standards are still the crucial test for the future. A programme of support from KCC is being developed.

"The decision here was a complex o­ne and we will continue to review closely the school’s future performance.”