Councillor dismay over 'undemocratic' school move
A move to close a North Yorkshire school has been "undemocratic", showing "scant regard" for the community's views, a councillor has told a government minister.
In January, the Dales Academies Trust announced it planned to close Kirkby Fleetham Church of England Primary School, near Northallerton, at the end of the summer term due to low pupil numbers.
Campaigners pledged to continue to fight to keep the school open, with Annabel Wilkinson, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for education, writing to education secretary Bridget Phillipson to share her dissatisfaction about the process.
The Department for Education has been approached for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Wilkinson said parents were informed on 16 January that the trust was proposing to close the school and that the government had given their in-principal approval.
The council said it was advised that a substantive decision to close the school was then made less than a fortnight later.
"Not only am I staggered at how undemocratic this process is, how little regard is paid to listening to any views of stakeholders and the community, but your own guidance is very misleading regarding the role of the local authority in the process and decision," Wilkinson wrote.
When the council makes a decision to close a school it is always reached after a "lengthy and very thorough public consultation process", she said.
"Your process has no consultation and pays scant regard to anything the community wants to say regarding the closure - this just isn't right," the councillor concluded.
The decision to shut the rural school, which has 18 pupils, prompted a campaign from parents, past pupils, and the wider community.
More than 600 people have signed a petition calling for the school to stay open.
Save Our School campaigner Tim Barker said: "The whole process stinks.
"There's been a lack of oversight, a lack of authentic community engagement and a lack of humanity."
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Parents urge education secretary to save school
Families call for village school to be saved
Village primary school with 18 pupils to close
Department for Education
North Yorkshire Council
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business Wire
Veterans' Benefits Protection Law Enacted in Florida: National Association for Veterans Rights Highlights Leadership of Governor DeSantis and State Legislature
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) commends Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and members of the Florida Legislature for enacting Senate Bill 910 (SB 910), known as the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act, into law. This significant measure enhances consumer protections for Veterans navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits claims process. This legislation provides stronger oversight of free-market assistance by establishing clear fee caps, prohibiting upfront and nonrefundable charges, banning referral fees, and requiring thorough disclosures and background checks. These provisions aim to protect Veterans from predatory practices while preserving their right to seek open-market assistance. NAVR extends its sincere appreciation to State Senator Jay Collins, a disabled Veteran and tireless advocate, for his leadership in championing this critical legislation. NAVR also recognizes Representative Jon Albert and prime co-sponsor Representative Danny Alvarez for their essential roles in advancing the bill through the House. By signing this bill into law, Governor DeSantis joins a growing number of state leaders taking action to protect Veterans. Florida now aligns with several other states that have enacted similar legislation, including Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Tennessee. 'NAVR commends Governor DeSantis for his leadership in safeguarding the rights and dignity of Florida's Veterans,' said Peter O'Rourke, President of NAVR, Veteran of both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, and former Acting Secretary and Chief of Staff of the VA. 'This new law represents a meaningful and timely step toward ensuring those who have served are treated fairly and protected when seeking the benefits they've earned.' NAVR supports state-based initiatives, such as SB 910, that enhance transparency, improve accountability, and provide Veterans with greater protections without expanding federal bureaucracy. These reforms reflect a growing bipartisan consensus that Veterans deserve the right to make informed decisions about their benefits with confidence and clarity. About NAVR: The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) is a national trade association dedicated to promoting ethical and transparent business practices among companies that engage with the service-disabled Veteran community. NAVR advocates for businesses that empower Veterans with professional and transparent solutions while advancing support for Veteran-owned businesses.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
City suburb set for speed limit cut to 20mph
A 20mph (32 km/h) speed limit is set to be introduced on roads in a city suburb following a public consultation. Officers have recommended Sheffield councillors approve plans to cut the speed limit in Netherthorpe as part of the authority's strategy to improve road safety in residential areas. A report to be considered by councillors said that, so far, 65 "sign-only" 20mph areas had been introduced in Sheffield, in addition to 12 child safety zones, with a further six schemes currently under way. The report noted that there had been an "unusually low" response to the public consultation over the Netherthorpe proposal, with only three emails in favour of the proposal and two against. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the report stated that the low number of participants in the consultation could be "for a number of reasons". "Having looked at the address data, the area is predominantly flats/HMOs, and we tend to receive less interest in schemes (except for parking schemes) from student areas," it said. The council said it was aiming to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions, lower people's fear of accidents, and encourage more sustainable travel. Sheffield City Council's transport, regeneration and climate policy committee is expected to make a final decision next Wednesday. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. New 20mph zones agreed for two city suburbs Sheffield City Council
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Texas Uses SAVE Data To Catch Noncitizen Voters
(Texas Scorecard) – After gaining access to a federal immigration and citizenship database, state officials have identified potential noncitizens who voted in Texas elections. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced Thursday that her office has referred 33 potential noncitizens who voted in the November 2024 General Election to the state attorney general's office for investigation. Nelson said the referrals come within weeks of Texas gaining access to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' SAVE database. 'Gaining access to this database has been a game-changer,' said Nelson. 'Not only have we been able to identify individuals who should not have voted in the last election, we have also been able to confirm naturalization of dozens more.' SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) is an online service for government agencies to verify the immigration status and naturalized/acquired U.S. citizenship of applicants seeking benefits or licenses. Nelson said Texas was among the first states to log in after President Donald Trump issued an election integrity executive order in March that directed the Department of Homeland Security to provide free access to the SAVE database to all states. She added that Texas also recently joined a pilot program working with DHS, USCIS, and DOGE to improve the database's functionality. 'We are in the early stages of this pilot program, but we already see promising results. This may be the most current and accurate data set there is when it comes to citizenship verification,' said Nelson. She noted that the Secretary of State is required to report potential criminal violations to the Office of the Attorney General, which has the authority to investigate such cases under Texas election law.