We all want to go to Longbarn next year (From Warrington Guardian)

We all want to go to Longbarn next year

LONGBARN Community Primary School is fighting back against its recommended closure.

Education chiefs have estimated the school is only likely to get 68 children in two years time.

Bosses at Warrington's local education authority worked out the figures by using last year's entry figures into the school's reception class.

Last year only five children joined the school, but Longbarn already has 18 children at its nursery that want to go to the school next September, taking numbers up to 85.

School governor, Sue Conneely, told the Warrington Guardian: "We've got seven children in total who are in the nursery at the moment who have said they want to come to Longbarn next year.

"That's more than Tim Warren, deputy director of education, estimated at the meeting and there are more children again in the nursery for the following year's intake."

The school has been earmarked for closure because of falling numbers. And other primary schools in Warrington face having their intake numbers slashed as part of Warrington LEA's radical review of primary education in the borough.

The borough council is still on track however to build a new primary school in the urban village of Chapelford on the former RAF Burtonwood airbase.

"It's not just the school that will suffer," added Mrs Conneely. "The nursery is very important at Longbarn.

"It provides wrap around care for the children, after school care and holiday care. All things the Government is asking schools to look at providing."

The consultation on the council's proposals runs until November 30. The final proposals will be announced next year.