Trafford council approves closure of St Teresa's primary school

Summarised from Manchester Evening News's report · Updated 21 Oct, 13:28 · Archive

Trafford council has approved the closure of St Teresa's primary school in Stretford after the setting became undersubscribed and faced significant financial difficulties. The school reported its first year of losses in 2022/23 and has seen its deficit increase each year since. Figures released by the authority showed it was on course for a blackhole of more than £1m by 2030. Government rules say local authority funded schools can only carry a deficit for three years, though Trafford council allows for five years in 'exceptional circumstances' if there is a plan to return to balance.

Parents opposed the closure, arguing it was about 'so much more than a building'. Helen Fitzpatrick, whose two daughters have attended the school, said the fight was about 'fighting for our children's wellbeing, the teachers' future and for a school that deserved every opportunity to survive'. She described the closure as 'absolutely heartbreaking'. The council received 379 responses during consultation on the closure. The authority has argued there are sufficient pupil places elsewhere in the north of the borough to accommodate displaced students.

Read the report

• ‘Devastated’ parents say fight was ‘about so much more than a building’ as Trafford signs-off school closure'It is about the relationships, friendships, familiarity and sense of security our children have built. It is the place where they feel at home'Manchester Evening News · 21 Oct, 11:21

In this story: St Teresa's primary school · Stretford · Trafford council · Helen Fitzpatrick

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem