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More on KentOnline
A 140-year-old village primary school facing closure may have had its fate already sealed as only six pupils were expected to remain by the term's end.
Parents have been taking their children out of Stansted Church of England Primary School since Kent County Council and the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education announced its proposal to shut the school gates by the end of the academic year.
The news was originally met with anger by many parents, who vowed to save the school.
However, it has now been revealed that the majority of the school’s 35 pupils have left to take up places at new schools allocated to them by KCC.
One mother, whose five-year-old daughter is still at the primary in Malthouse Road, said it would now take a miracle to save the school.
“If we had stood our ground we could have scraped by and been given another chance,” said Grace Kiell.
“But now it is not financially viable. People have been taking their children out and by next week there will possibly only be six.
“In the morning when we take the kids to school it’s like a ghost town. It’s horrible and unless there is a miracle the school will close.”
The decision was made by a government-appointed interim executive board in January.
It followed an Ofsted inspection, which found the school was not making enough progress to come out of special measures.
Many parents described themselves as completely shocked and heartbroken, having expected good news after results in statutory tests for pupils in Year 6 significantly improved.
A Save Stansted C of E Primary School page was set up on Facebook, urging parents to take part in the KCC consultation period, and the parish council held an emergency meeting in support.
KCC said at the time that it agreed with Ofsted that the school had not made reasonable progress despite a significant level of investment and additional support.
Conversion to academy status or federation with another school were considered but ruled out.
The board of education said it would assist the school until its future was decided.
Miss Kiell’s daughter, Chloe Brown, is in Year 1. The 25-year-old, who lives in West Kingsdown, said closure would be a double blow to the family as it would mean losing her job delivering the school meals which are cooked at nearby Culverstone Green Primary School.
“I haven’t started looking at other schools for Chloe yet and people keep saying I’m mad. Then I think should I take her out? I just don’t know what to do.
“After Easter we will have one pupil in Reception and Chloe will be the only Year 1 pupil. She is coping all right but I feel sorry for the two Year 6 pupils.
"I haven’t started looking at other schools for Chloe yet and people keep saying I’m mad. Then I think should I take her out? I just don’t know what to do" - Grace Kiell
“It is their last year of primary school and they should be having a leavers’ assembly. The Year 6 pupils usually go on a residential trip, too, but they won’t have that, either. It is so sad.”
The future use of the building, if the school closes, has yet to be decided, although Miss Kiell said there had been rumours that it might re-open as a nursery.
A report on the outcome of the consultation period will be made to KCC’s education and young people’s cabinet committee on April 15.
If the proposal is proceeded with, a public notice will be published at the school and in the media. A four-week period will then follow in which any person may submit a response supporting, objecting to or commenting on the proposal.
The final decision will be formally announced in June.
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