Parents’ shock as Parkfield School at Hurn announces sudden closure

PARENTS have been sharing their shock and anger over the closure of their “nurturing” Christchurch school.

Parkfield School, near Bournemouth Airport at Hurn, will close at the end of term to all pupils except those starting Year 11 – because of “falling and unsustainable numbers of pupils”.

The free school, which caters for pupils aged four to 16, has been run by Reach South Academy Trust since 2018. Last Friday parents and pupils were told that the Department for Education agreed with the trust’s closure recommendation. A formal listening period will now run until 12th July when the Secretary of State for Education will make a final decision.

Following the announcement, BCP Council said that pupils in reception to Year 9 will be offered places at alternative schools to begin in September.

An information page on BCP’s website revealed: “We have been working with Reach South Trust, the Department for Education and local school leaders to develop a plan to support the smooth move of children to alternative schools.

“It will ensure a smooth transition for children to other local schools rated as at least ‘good’ by Ofsted and is within a reasonable travelling distance. We are grateful to our local headteachers who have been incredibly supportive and accommodating.”

The news of the closure has been greeted with dismay by many parents, who said they were “saddened” and “shocked” by the announcement.

Former parent and governor at Parkfield School Emma O’Callaghan warned: “Parkfield is a school that is very suitable for children who don’t do well in larger settings. It has always had a small school nurturing ethos – as a former parent and the former head of the PFA I would say 75% of the kids will not function in mainstream schools.”

“An awful lot of kids are absolutely devastated – these kids really need to be looked after,” said Emma, continuing: “Many are children with additional needs so it will not work to just drop them into their nearest catchment school.”

Another parent said the uncertainty over where her children would be reallocated was “unbearable”. She added: “Five weeks before the end of the school year. It’s disgusting. The poor staff and children.”

And another asked: “What about all the new homes they are about to build in that area? Surely there will be children that will need a school.”

Writing about the closure online, one parent said: “So upsetting. There are a good few of us that have been there from the start. Heartbreaking.”

Parkfield operates as a free school, which means it is not run by the local authority and receives its funding directly from the government. The school initially started in an office block in Bournemouth in 2013, before moving to its current site on the former air traffic control centre at Bournemouth Airport. It is understood there are currently around 400 pupils on role at the school but this figure was due to reduce in September when the current year 11s leave.

A spokesperson for Reach South Academy Trust said: “A final decision by the Department for Education on closing the school will be subject to a listening period and full assurance that all pupils that need one have been offered another school place by the end of this academic year.

“This has been an extremely difficult situation, and we recognise the news will be upsetting and unsettling for families. Without a natural catchment area, Parkfield has always faced challenges when it comes to the number of students on roll, and given this is not going to change, it is simply not possible for the school to remain open.”

“The council will be writing to all families this week to explain the transfer process and advise them of the place that is secured for their child,” the spokesperson added.

“For our part, we will do everything we can to support making this process as smooth as possible, giving families the support and advice they need.”

When Ofsted visited at the beginning of 2023 – giving the school a ‘requires improvement’ grade – Parkfield had a role of just over 500. The A&T understands it is now around 400.

Pupils currently in Year 10 will remain at Parkfield so they can complete their GCSE studies. They will move into Year 11 in September and complete the 2024/2025 academic year. The school will officially close to the current Year 10s on 31st August 2025.

A statement from BCP Council said the authority understood it was a “worrying time” for parents and pupils: “We are working with our partners to limit the period of uncertainty. Parents and carers can be reassured to hear that a robust plan is in place to ensure children will receive an offer of an alternative school place in order to provide continuity of education.

“At this stage in the formal closure process, the trust has secured a ‘substantive decision’. This is a step which, in line with Department for Education guidance, starts a formal four-week listening period where parents and carers and all stakeholders can comment on the proposal.”

The council has also warned parents not to take it upon themselves to submit applications to other schools for their children, relying instead on procedures already under way.

It said: “While we work to secure alternative offers for children on roll at Parkfield School, parents and carers should not submit separate in-year applications for places.

“The process of admission for all children on roll at Parkfield will be administered as part of the transition arrangements and any applications received outside will not be processed in the normal way.”