Two schools located in Chichester may be shut down as the West Sussex County Council review their longstanding viability.
The council has confirmed that it’s considering making changes to 5 rural schools across the country that have exceptionally low pupil strength. This includes Rumboldswhyke School located in Rumbolds Close, Chichester and Compton and Up Marden School located in School Lane, Compton.
The options which are being examined include merger, federation, relocation or even closure, said the council.
A comprehensive assessment is all set to be conducted and any kind of changes carried out would be subjected to a completed consultation with governors, teachers, parents as well as community, as per the council.
As per Ofsted inspections, Rumboldswhyke School having 72 pupils was judged as inadequate while Compton and Up Marden School having 85 pupils was asked to improve last year by the inspectors.
A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said that the School Effectiveness Strategy 2018-22 points out the requirement to improve education support schools and standards to be sustainable. The council has been working along with schools since a while in order to discuss the future challenges and is therefore now considering to make changes to a few schools, with very low pupil members.