Fears for small Norfolk schools amid declining numbers.

Some of Norfolk’s tiniest schools will struggle to stay open as student numbers fall across the county, officials have warned.

school officials have expressed special concern that individuals with only one or two classes may be at risk as the number of youngsters in the county’s school system is expected to decline.

According to projections, by the 2027 reception intake, student numbers will have plummeted from about 10,000 in the present Year 8 to less than 7,000. And, with school funding closely connected to enrolment, the drop could be devastating for some of Norfolk’s smaller schools, particularly those in rural areas.

Norfolk County Council’s education officials earlier stated that they will be meeting with schools to discuss ways to prepare for the drop and warned that some schools may close.

However, they have recently provided more information about the schools that they are most concerned about.

Which schools could be at risk?

Officers said schools with only one class are “unlikely to be sustainable,” while those with two classes may need to be altered to survive.

Many of Norfolk’s smaller schools have only one or two classes, with some combining year groups to create them. However, the council states that it will “not encourage solutions that result in more than three year groups being taught together”.

Cantley Primary School(Image: Denise Bradley)

Cantley Primary School dissolved and amalgamated with Freethorpe Primary School since no new students had enrolled.

Brancaster Primary School, near Hunstanton, recently merged with Docking Primary School due to declining enrolment, a decision opposed by parents.

Parents fought to stop the Brancaster Primary School merger(Image: Chris Bishop)

It has only 24 primary school students on its rolls, divided between two classes, and was expected to have only 17 children this academic year. Great Dunham Primary School, in Dereham, merged with Beeston Primary School as it was predicted to have only 13 students by 2029.

Great Dunham Primary School(Image: Matthew Usher)

Such mergers will become increasingly widespread, according to a study presented to County Hall’s Conservative-controlled cabinet today (Monday, October 13).

While the council does not have direct control over all schools, officers are advising school leaders and governors to consider amalgamation or mergers if they will assist schools survive. The report states:

“It is unavoidable that the continued fall in birth rates will make it difficult to prepare for all schools to continue to provide a good education to students within the budgetary resources available.

“In some situations, in order to provide the most effective education for local communities, some schools may need to amalgamate or combine with another local school on a single site.

“In some situations, a school may have to close entirely. “While we do not advocate for a rigid approach to class sizes, we realise that a one-class structure is unlikely to be educationally effective, and two-class structures create considerable obstacles.

“The risk to pupil attainment and their entitlement to a comprehensive, well-planned, and sequenced curriculum in which several subjects are taught concurrently is clearly demonstrated in Norfolk and nationally.

“The developmental needs, levels of physical and emotional maturity and independence across the primary age range means we should not encourage solutions that result in more than three year groups being taught together.”

Penny Carpenter, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for children’s services(Image: James Bass)

Penny Carpenter, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, stated that the decline in numbers could “destabilise” some schools and disrupt children’s learning.

However, she stated, “Small schools continue to be an important part of the education landscape in a rural county like Norfolk, and in a county like ours, we cannot have a single solution to this difficulty.

“We need to work together with schools and academies to plan for the future so we have school places in the right areas, delivering the very best education for our children.”

Jonathan Taylor, chief executive of the Sapientia Education Trust(Image: Nick Dunmur)

What do schools say?

Norfolk has 422 schools, 265 of which are administered by academy trusts. Others include community schools, foundation schools, and schools that are voluntary aided or governed.

Esme Sexton is the executive headteacher for The Saints Federation, which operates three smaller-than-average primary schools, including St Andrew’s Primary School in North Lopham, which saw no new students this year.

She stated, “Our primary goal is to ensure that our children receive the greatest possible education.

“Falling rolls affect many schools, large and small, and our governors address this on a regular basis.

“We already collaborate extensively with the local authorities and other area schools, and we endorse the council’s goal of working together to find answers to this difficulty.

“Every school and area will be different and there will be range of considerations in planning for the future.” Jonathan Taylor, CEO of the Sapientia Education Trust, which operates 22 schools in the region, believes it is possible to run small schools effectively.

He stated, “These are complex issues, and we welcome ongoing discussions that will help shape future school site planning.”

“Context and geography are critical considerations, with many tiny village schools at the centre of local communities, and it may not be optimal to transfer young children long distances.

“We manage numerous tiny primary schools very successfully, with outcomes much exceeding Norfolk and national standards, demonstrating that the size of the school or class structures is not always the determining factor.

“Ultimately though, parental choice may well become the key determining factor, which is something we believe is a crucial element too easily missed in the debate.”

Adrian Ball, chief executive of DEMAT(Image: DEMAT)

Adrian Ball, CEO of the Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust, which operates 39 schools, including in King’s Lynn and Thetford, stated that one- and two-class systems posed “huge educational challenges”. He continued with:

 

“It’s essential that any schools which are local to each other and looking to combine their provision are part of the same trust, so that there is clarity on policies and approach for everything from safeguarding to maintaining a consistent and enriching curriculum.”

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