12/09/03 - County Council reaction to School Organisation Committee decision to close Lowick School

Today, County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Spokesperson for Education issued the following statement following the decision by the School Organisation Committee to close Lowick School near Ulverston. The decision came at a meeting of the independent Committee who heard evidence from both the County Council as Local Education Authority and the Lowick community.   

“I am very grateful to the School Organisation Committee for the detailed consideration they have given to this difficult matter. The County Council, as Local Education Authority, had reached the conclusion that proposing the closure of Lowick School was the right decision for the long-term future for the primary education of children in the area. It was not a decision taken lightly and one that followed extensive consultation. Today’s decision will allow the resources to be used more efficiently and effectively and I believe that is in the best interests for the education of the children of the area.   

I know that this has been a difficult time for this community. It is clear that pupil numbers at Lowick have fallen in recent years and this looks set to continue. Whilst some children do go to Lowick School from outside its catchment area, more families from the catchment area choose to send their children elsewhere. I have every confidence that nearby schools can build on the excellent work already done by Lowick and serve the needs of early years, school age pupils and the community successfully for many years to come. Nobody likes to see schools close and we will support the staff, children and the Lowick community during this time of change.”