Impact of closure of Shelton Lower School
Consultation closed at 5pm on Monday, 23 July 2018
Shelton Lower is a rural school and therefore the council must consider;
- the effect of closure on the local community
- educational standards at the school and likely effect on neighbouring schools
- the availability, and cost, of transport to other schools
- any increase in motor vehicle use as a result of closure and the effects of any increase
- any alternatives to closure
Below provides an initial view on the potential impact of closure but this consultation gives you an opportunity to raise any other issues that you feel should be considered.
Impact on community
The local community does not use the school facilities for community activities.
Impact on schools
Parents of pupils currently attending the school may express a preference to send their children to neighbouring schools in the area, or outside it. There are three lowers schools in the immediate area:
Church End, Cranfield Academy and Thomas Johnson. All three schools currently have vacancies. The other lower school in the area, although further away, is Houghton Conquest Lower School. The three neighbouring schools also have provision for pre-school nursery children and can accommodate the children currently at Shelton.
With regard to standards in alternative schools, they are all rated by Ofsted as good, with all (including Shelton) assessed by the council’s School Improvement Service to have the potential to be 'outstanding'.
The table below shows the current Ofsted rating, foundation stage profile, key stage one assessment outcomes for 2016 and 2017 and pupil characteristics of all the schools in the area.
| School | Ofsted | FS (2016) | KS 1 RWM (2016) | FS (2017) | KS 1 RWM (2017) | English as additional language | Free school meals | Special educational needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church End | Good | 66 | 78 | 70 | 76 | 11% | 7% | 17% |
| Cranfield Academy | Good | 72 | 70 | 79 | 68 | 22% | 4% | 7% |
| Houghton Conquest | Good | 79 | 78 | 78 | 88 | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Shelton | Good | 70 | 70 | 80 | 66 | 3% | 10% | 5% |
| Thomas Johnson | Good | 84 | 70 | 79 | 86 | 8% | 7% | 13% |
Travel
As nearly all pupils attending the school come from outside of the village, the effect of the use of motor vehicles in the area, if the school closes, would be negligible.
In the event of closure, pupils on the school roll at the end of the summer term 2019 may be eligible for assistance with travel costs, in line with Central Bedfordshire Council's home to school transport policy. If the council proposes to close the school (stage 2), there will be a detailed assessment of current travel distances to the nearest other suitable school. Parents would be notified of any school transport eligibility at the time of making an application for an alternative school place.