THE primary school at Sutcombe is the ‘heartbeat’ of the community and efforts should be made to prevent its closure, says Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox.
Consultation is taking place on the future of the school, which currently has 21 pupils.
Conservative Mr Cox is to meet Devon County Council Leader John Hart to express how to try to keep the school open.
Mr Cox told the Post: “I am concerned about the increasing pattern we are seeing in the closure of schools in Torridge. I have written to the council expressing my hope that a solution will be found as this pattern needs to be arrested.
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“Village schools, like Sutcombe, are really the heartbeat of local communities and along with services like the Post Office and village shops, they are what help keep small, rural villages vibrant and thriving.
“I understand there are concerns with small rural schools like Sutcombe being a small environment and doubts as to whether the children are getting access to a full curriculum, but all the comments I have heard from parents in the past have been very positive and said how excellent the school is.
“With the recent closure of schools in Clovelly and Pyworthy I will be expressing to Cllr Hart how I think we ought to try to keep Sutcombe Primary School open and that there must be solutions other than closure to prevent this becoming a pattern in Devon schools.”
Those wishing to make representations about the possible closure of the school have until February 4 to make their views known.
After an initial period of consultation on the school’s future, the county council said it has agreed to move to the next stage — the publication of a ‘brief notice’, which provides for a further four weeks for representations to be received on the possible closure.
Documents on the council’s consultation website said pupil numbers had ‘fallen significantly over the past few years’ in the Holsworthy Local Learning Community — where the school is located.
The proposal document continues: “The North Devon and Torridge Local Plan has 640 new homes proposed in the Holsworthy area and future investment planning is being undertaken by Devon County Council to ensure there are sufficient pupil places to meet demand.”
The council said there are ‘sufficient’ school places in the area. It outlined the nearest schools to Sutcombe — Bradworthy Primary Academy School, approximately 2.5 miles away, Holsworthy Primary School, approximately five miles away, and Bradford Primary School, approximately 7.5 miles away.
The land and buildings are owned by Devon County Council and Secretary of State approval will be required for their disposal.
Consultation on the future of the school follows the closure of Pyworthy Church of England School, which went through the same process of consultation before its closure.
The closing date for the council to receive representations is 5pm on Thursday, February 4.
Devon County Council’s cabinet is expected to consider the responses and make a decision at its meeting on March 9.
It is proposed that the school will close from August 31.
Further information, including an online survey, are available at https://new.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/sutcombe-primary-school/
Representations can be sent to Strategic Planning-Children’s Services, Room AB2, Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD, or emailed to [email protected]