Shining example is on ‘at risk’ list

15th April 2005, 1:00am
Pupils at St George’s primary in Hull get some of the best test results in the city.

Inspectors have praised the school and local education officers recognised its good work. And yet there are reorganisation plans which could result in the 214-pupil school being shut down.

Education officials in Hull have placed the school on a shortlist of 11 which could be closed or merged as a result of falling pupil rolls. Staff and parents are furious.

In a letter sent to the city council last month, they wrote: “We are at a loss to understand how a local education authority which continues to languish near the bottom of the league tables can even consider closing one of its most successful schools.”

Martyn Fisher, the head, said: “The authority needs to remove 2,000 surplus places and is trying to look at the issue strategically. If nothing is done, all schools will suffer. But schools such as this one are at the centre of the communities they serve.”