AN ANDOVER councillor has described the potential closure of a rural primary school as ‘a real shame’ and said that course of action would be ‘far too premature’.
As previously reported, Hatherden Church of England Primary School has recently been subject to stakeholder consultation, with education authority Hampshire County Council due to make a decision on the future of the school.
It comes after the school – which currently has just 34 pupils on its registers despite capacity for more than 100 – was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted and, despite considerable improvements, has struggled to get the resources needed for major changes due to low student numbers.
Now, Cllr Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Councillor and ward councillor for Bourne Valley, in which Hatherden School is situated, has responded to the options being put forward – which include no action, attempt to find an academy trust or sponsor for the school, or closure of the school.
In a statement, he said: “There has been a school on this site since 1725 – and according to…