Plans to convert closed Northumberland school into three-bedroom house

A heritage statement, submitted due to the school and adjoining school house – dating from 1852 – being Grade II-listed, states that there ‘are no proposed changes whatsoever to the existing appearance of the building’.

The final bell rang at the school in the summer of 2018, after receiving a stay of execution from Christmas 2017.

Despite becoming part of the James Calvert Spence College hard federation in 2015 to support it and reduce overheads, the falling pupil numbers meant the governors launched a consultation on closure in May 2017.

By the autumn, a report recommending closure at the end of December that year was presented to county councillors, in line with the governing body’s approval.

Between May and the new academic year, the number of pupils on roll had fallen even further, from 13 to eight, with places available for them in other schools across the Coquet Partnership.

However, the family and children’s services scrutiny committee, while agreeing to support the closure, against the wish of parents, did back the school staying open until the end of the academic year (August 31, 2018). This was agreed by the cabinet when it approved the closure the following week.

Part of Acklington’s catchment area was incorporated into Broomhill First School’s as the nearest school (1.3 miles) and part was incorporated into that of Warkworth CofE Primary School as the closest Church of England school offering primary education (2.9 miles).

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