Parents of pupils at Chillerton and Rookley Primary School say they will refuse to move their children to another school from January, after it was announced earlier in the week there would be no qualified teacher available to teach the ten pupils across three year groups from the New Year.
Parents say they are citing their rights under Section 9 of the Education Act which allows pupils to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.
Free transport
The council said it would “work closely with parents to find alternative school placements for their children”, offering them free home-to-school transport to Godshill Primary School from January.
No applications for vacancy
They also stated that despite a recruitment campaign launched specifically for the post of the teacher leaving at the end of the year, advertising both locally and nationally across a range of media, no applications were received.
“It will affect her mental health”
One parent of a child at the school said,
“We absolutely must keep the school open.
“If it means Staff training, promotions and moving around staff then it needs to be done.
“I know that my child will not be able to go to any other school as it will affect her mental health and to be honest she shouldn’t have to be pressured.”
“What has the council has done before ‘running out of options’”
A spokesperson for the Save our School Group added,
“It is for families to decide on where their children are educated, not council officers in Winchester.
“Parents at rural schools must be looking over their shoulders wondering who is next.
“We would like to understand exactly what the council has done before ‘running out of options’.
“We would recommend reinstating provision on site for starters.”
Earlier this year, the 170 year old rural school achieved a ‘good’ rating across all areas following an Ofsted inspection.
Image: Photo from June 2021 with different school intake
