Wirral Council swings the axe on Birkenhead's Cole Street Primary School (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral Council swings the axe on Birkenhead's Cole Street Primary School

2:25pm Friday 26th November 2010 in News By Craig Manning

WIRRAL Council’s cabinet has approved plans to close a primary school in Birkenhead.

After considering a report from the director of children’s services, David Armstrong, it was agreed that Cole Street Primary School will close on August 31 next year.

The authority says falling pupil numbers are behind the decision.

Parents and teachers say it is a tragedy which will lead to job losses and could divide the community.

Wirral's education spokeswoman Cllr Sheila Clarke said the decision to close was a "difficult" one, made on practical grounds and not standards of teaching or learning.

According to Mr Armstrong’s report, the number of pupils at Cole Street had fallen to 113 pupils and the school is now 50% empty.

It also found that nearby Cathcart Street Primary was large enough to accommodate the pupils from both schools without the need for additional classroom provision.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said after the Thursday night meeting: “The parents of Cole Street are adamant that they are will not be putting their children into Cathcart School.

“It’s not going to increase numbers at Cathcart so, inevitably two schools will close and the area will be left with no school, so people will have to travel further afield, which is quite unnecessary.

“There are a lot of young families moving into this area, who would have built up the numbers in Cole Street, but they’re not going to move into an area .

“It will destroy communities and make the area more deprived. I’ve put my children and my foster children through Cole Street and I think what’s been decided is a tragedy.“

Councillor Clarke said: "This difficult decision to close Cole Street Primary School is one made on practical grounds and not because of the standards of teaching and learning.

“The school, although performing well, is operating with a large number of empty places. This means more money is being spent on buildings and less on children.

“One larger school on the Cathcart Street Primary site will be able to build on the good standards of both schools and deliver the curriculum in a more flexible and innovative way.

“I am certain that these two schools will work well together in the future for the benefit of the pupils and the wider community.”