Strapped for cash school with falling student numbers set to close after 'difficult' decision

A school in Wigan that is struggling for numbers is set to close its doors for good after the council revealed it would be half-a-million pounds in debt by the 2024/2025 school year. Abram Bryn Gates Primary School will close on August 31, 2023 “in the best interests of educational provision in the Abram area”, a cabinet meeting heard.

Wigan Council officers have used projection data to see that there will not be a large enough rise in demand for places that cannot be tackled by other schools in the area - despite what objectors say. There are eight housing developments currently under construction in the area, but none of those would yield enough student places for the council to keep the school open.

There are currently no plans to replace the Lily Lane based site - which means the number of schools in the area will be cut from four to three.

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Giving reasons for their decision following the meeting in the town hall, the cabinet said: “The recommendation to close a school was always a difficult one, however consideration must be given to the impact that declining school budgets and falling numbers of pupils on roll had on all children within an area. The council would continue to review places within the area to ensure that there was balanced sufficiency.”

A report showed that the school had made savings where possible and projected further savings if they moved to a four class structure and removed a teacher and teaching assistant. However, it was thought that projections continued to indicate that the school will have budget deficits and therefore will not be sustainable over the longer term.

“If no action is taken