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School's fate set to be decided

From the archive, first published Saturday 17th May 2003.

County councillors were expected to sound the death knell for Headington Quarry First School in Oxford today (May 15).

The school organisation committee was expected to rubber-stamp the executive board's decision on Tuesday that the school should close next summer because of a sharp fall in pupil numbers.

There are only 23 pupils enrolled for the academic year starting in September, compared with 61 last year, 71 in 2001/2002 and 82 in 2000/2001.

The councillors agreed to the closure plan followed the issuing of the statutory closure notice from the governing body of the school, which recently received an excellent Ofsted inspection report.

Deputy council leader Margaret Godden said: "This has been a very nice, little school but it's clear that its time has come to an end."

School budgets depend on the number of pupils, and unless more enrol, Headington Quarry will be able only to afford one teacher, one teaching assistant and very limited support staff.

Different year groups would be taught in the same class.

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