Parents "distraught" as yet another North Yorkshire school announces it'll close

Holy Family Catholic High School near Selby will shut next year

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 30th Sep 2024

Parents of children with special educational needs say they're "absolutely distraught" as yet another North Yorkshire school announced plans to close.

Holy Family Catholic High near Selby is the latest to say falling pupil numbers and financial pressures means they can't continue.

Claire's says her daughter has a range of additional needs and it's the only school suitable.

"She won't cope with 1,200 students. She struggles to cope with 298. I'm currently not applying for anywhere because where? Where can they apply? Why would I send my child to a school that's going to be detrimental to her mental health?"

She only joined Holy Family a month ago and says it's been transformational: "She's happier and her and her brother don't argue she comes home interested. She's back out of her room. She just used to be holed up in a room. She'd come home crying every night. She'd make herself sick. She couldn't cope."

"We're currently fighting for an EHCP because actually if she gets one of them. she can go to a specialist school, which is what she wants to do. If she doesn't get one, she's going to be out of education."

"I've had the educational department on my doorstep many a times asking why my daughter wasn't in school and the threatening behaviour and what happens and 'you're not a responsible parent'. You'll find me a suitable school for a child with special educational needs and I will put her in it.

What do the school say?

In a statement the Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust say: 'Following considerable intervention and mitigation to improve the financial position of the Holy Family Catholic High School following its Academy conversion to the Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust (BKCAT), Trust Directors in conjunction with the school’s Trust Intervention Board and the Diocese of Leeds have had to reluctantly consider the closure of the school on grounds of financial viability.

There has been a significant decline in young people living near to the school and a lack of transport services to the school. Since funding for schools is awarded based on its pupil numbers, it is not possible for the school to continue operating, and to deliver the level of education that our young people deserve, beyond 31 August 2025. The Department for Education’s (DfE) substantive agreement has therefore been given to begin the process of closure.

The school is working closely with North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Authorities and the Diocese to ensure that each child has a place at a new school by September 2025.

Holy Family School is, and will continue to be, a special place for the whole community for this school year. We will remain committed to delivering the highest possible standard of education and to supporting the pupils, families and staff during this difficult period of transition.

"Concerning time for pupils, parents and wider community"

North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for inclusion, Amanda Newbold, said:

“Following consideration by the Diocese of Leeds and the directors of Bishop Konstant Academy Trust, the decision to close Holy Family Catholic High School has been made by the Department for Education.

“The council’s role is now to help to find alternative school places for North Yorkshire pupils currently attending the school.

“We will be working with the Bishop Konstant Academy Trust and other local schools and academies to support parents of affected children to find suitable places.”

She added: “Parents are encouraged to attend the meetings that are being arranged at the school to discuss the next steps including in relation to the admissions process. We would advise parents and carers to list several school preferences if possible.

“A number of pupils live in the East Riding of Yorkshire, their council will also run a separate admissions preference exercise for pupils living in their area.

“We understand this will be a concerning time for pupils, parents and the wider community but we are working closely with the school, trust, diocese and other partners to help minimise the disruption to children’s education.”

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