MP concerned over closure of small primary school

An MP has said she is "deeply concerned" by the planned closure of a primary school in Leicestershire.

Leicestershire County Council said governors at Diseworth CofE Primary School, near Castle Donington, voted last month to close the site due to falling pupil numbers and staff departures.

The final decision on the closure rests with the council's cabinet but it said a statutory consultation would not take place until the autumn - with the 35-pupil school due to close later this month.

North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack said she felt there had been an absence of meaningful consultation over the process and had met county council chief executive Jane Moore to express her concerns.

"Like many of the parents who have been in touch with my office, I am deeply concerned by this decision," Hack said.

"The closure at such short notice does not give parents enough time to explore alternative education settings."

The authority said all the staff had already secured alternative jobs and there was not enough time to replace them.

A spokesperson added: "The governors' decision was due to there being no staff to teach children in place from September. In addition, the school was increasingly unviable financially and had consistently low pupil numbers.

"As all teaching staff had resigned, governors were left in an unprecedented position of proposing closure to enable children to find an alternative school place.

"To close a school permanently, the county council has to undergo a statutory consultation - permission to consult needs to be approved by cabinet and will take place in the autumn."

Parents of Diseworth pupils have told the BBC they also felt there should have been more consultation before the decision to close.

They said they had now been left "scrambling" to find alternative places for their children at other schools before the autumn term.

The council's cabinet member for children and families, Charles Pugsley, said: "The circumstances at the school were specific and exceptional.

"Pupil numbers had been falling for several years and the school faced significant financial pressures.

"Fewer than half of available places were expected to be filled in 2026/27, and by the end of May all current teaching staff had secured posts elsewhere, leaving no teaching staff for September.

"The immediate priority has been to support every affected child and family to secure their ongoing education."

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