Saltfleetby Primary will close in August

The news comes following the final decision to close the school, was made by the executive councillor for Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council, Coun Patricia Bradwell.

Pupils will now only have until August 31,2016 before the primary school shuts down for good due to due to low pupil numbers, projected to continue falling and that the necessary finances needed to ensure a viable future are not in place.

There are currently only 16 pupils on roll across 7 year groups, with a potential capacity for 56 and there was expected to be only 13 children on roll in September 2016.

Coun Bradwell commented: “I understand why some parents and the community have such passionate support for a village school such as Saltfleetby where their children are settled and enjoying their education.

“But after careful consideration, it is clear that low pupil numbers and future low projected numbers will not secure a viable future for the school, so I have taken the difficult decision to close the school.”

Coun Bradwell added: “Children should be entitled to a breadth of curriculum and quality of teaching and learning that will enable them to reach their full potential.

“Finances won’t allow this to happen with such low pupil numbers.”

“Despite the hard work of the staff and Interim Executive Board, numbers have remained low and the number of children in the immediate area alone is not enough to support a sustainable primary school.

“There is sufficient surplus capacity within neighbouring schools in the area to accommodate the children, and suitable arrangements will be put in place to ensure a smooth transition across to their new schools.”

Saltfleetby Primary is now the second school in the county to close down following earlier reports at the start of the year that the Mablethorpe site of Monks Dyke Tennyson College will also close in August, 2016.

Jamie Oliver began a healthy eating pilot scheme in 2006 and Saltfleetby Primary School was one of the first schools to provide pupils with a daily healthy hot meal.