Agenda and decisions
PDF 197 KBVenue: Committee Room, Surrey County Council, Woodhatch Place,11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF. View directions
Contact: Toby Nash Email: toby.nash@surreycc.gov.uk
Media
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Declarations of Interest
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter: i. Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or ii. Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting NOTES: · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner). · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial. Additional documents: |
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Procedural Matters
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Members' Questions
The deadline for Members’ questions is 12pm four working days before the meeting (1 July 2025). Additional documents: |
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Public Questions
The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (30 June 2025). Additional documents: |
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Petitions
The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Additional documents: |
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In recent years, most local authorities across England, including Surrey, have been experiencing a significant fall in pupil numbers. In Surrey, the number of children starting school in Reception classes has fallen by 1687 or 12.5% from 2016 to 2024 - equivalent to 56 fewer classes. The reasons behind this are thought to include the lower birth rate and families leaving Surrey because of the pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis.
While Surrey schools are recognised for their high performance and excellent results, the fall in the number of children has resulted in a higher number of surplus primary school places. The subsequent reduced funding from central government has meant that schools with a high number of vacant places have less money for staff, resources, equipment, extracurricular activities, to pay bills and to carry out maintenance work.
For St Mary’s CE Infant School, these challenges have now reached a level where the decrease in funding is beginning to affect their ability to fully support their pupils and means that the school is no longer sustainable. With the overarching vision that no one is left behind, Surrey County Council alongside the Diocese of Guildford and the governing body of the school have explored ways to make the school viable, but pupil numbers are now so low that the school cannot continue without putting the quality of education for the children at risk.
Report to follow Additional documents: Decision: The Leader of the Council: Determined the statutory notices to agree the proposal to close St Mary’s C of E Infant School and transfer its pupils to Puttenham C of E Infant School or an alternative preferred school from September 2025. |