Council backs move to close school in area with low birth rate

Wigan council has backed plans to close a school where the birth rate is low.

Abram Bryn Gates Primary School has been selected from a list of two schools which were considered for closure as part of a public consultation in the area.

It comes as the birth rate in the area continues to fall and the number of pupils is projected to plummet with an estimated surplus of up to 49 places by 2023.

READ MORE: Wigan council tax expected to increase by around 3 pc to plug £9m budget gap

Residents were asked for their views on cutting the number of local primary schools from four to three by closing either Abram Bryn Gates Primary School in Bamfurlong or Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Platt Bridge.

The council concluded that closing Abram Bryn Gates, which has a larger budget deficit and is housed in an older building, would be the best option.

The cabinet endorsed this recommendation at a meeting on Thursday (February 17) which means a statutory consultation will now take place.

Cath Pealing, assistant director for education at Wigan council, said the new consultation will seek views and answer queries of governors, parents and carers, staff, and wider stakeholders of Abram Bryn Gates Primary School.

She said: "All local authorities have a statutory duty to monitor sufficiency of school places for all residents and this involves balancing supply and demand and ensuring we have enough school places where we need them or reducing places where there are too many if it has a negative impact.

"A school’s budget is primarily based on the number of pupils on roll. If pupil numbers continue to fall over a sustained period of time, this would have a significant, negative, impact on school budgets and can have a detrimental