Cotswold schools face anxious wait (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cotswold schools face anxious wait

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save two Cotswold schools from closure face an uncertain four-month wait before they learn their fate.

Next week Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) will launch a public consultation to decide the future of Longborough and Lower Swell Schools.

Education leaders have recommended either the closure of Longborough, saving GCC £150,000 over the next five years, or a federation between the two facilities.

Lower Swell ground to a halt last week as scores of villagers protested at plans to close the lifeblood of their community.

Now, campaigners are delighted GCC cabinet members have been advised against the closure.

The relief followed a nervous few weeks for the community after the panel set up to review primary schools in the Cotswolds recommended it be axed.

Graham Dodridge, chairman of Swell Action Group, said: "Common sense appears to have prevailed and the school is now free to continue delivering the high standard of education to the children of the local community that they have been receiving.

"We're delighted the cabinet has overruled the panel's recommendation and agreed with the voice of the people. It is welcomed by the whole community."

However, Mr Dodridge expressed sympathy with Longborough, whose fate is still in the balance.

He said: "We take no comfort in knowing that other small schools are still under threat and wish them success in their fight to remain open."

Six education panels were set up last year to help combat falling pupils numbers in Gloucestershire.

Surplus places currently cost the council £459,000 per year through the complex schools funding formula (see panel) and both Longborough and Lower Swell were recommended to be closed by the Cotswold panel.

However, the council report released this week, which will go before cabinet on Wednesday (February 1), has progressed the panel's advice.

The report said: "GCC shares the concerns about the low demand for Longborough and the inflexible accommodation at Swell, but it is not convinced about closing a successful rural school like the latter.

"It does, however, want to reduce area capacity, strengthen local provision and improve collaboration, while not increasing pupil travel unduly.

"The closure of Longborough might meet some of these criteria, but so might some form of federation between Swell and Longborough."

But residents and parish councillors in Longborough are sharpening their knives for the forthcoming public consultation, which will conclude in July.

Parish council chairman Ian Williams said: "We pay a lot in council tax and the only thing we have is the school.

"We are wholeheartedly against closure and we shall be fighting it all the way."

Mr Williams also stressed that Longborough's new headteacher only started at the school two weeks ago.

He said: "We have known for a year that numbers have fallen, but we hope that a new headteacher might bring them back. She has inspired the village already."

Other schools near Stow are safe from closure, although Stow School itself might need to be expanded to accommodate surplus places if Longborough was to close.