A BURY primary school is being closed because it does not have enough pupils.

The decision to axe Brandlesholme County Primary School has dismayed staff and parents who were hoping it could be saved.

It is thought to be the first time Bury LEA has actually chosen to close a school rather than amalgamate it.

Brandlesholme, opened in 1956, has capacity for 245 pupils but has only 107 on the roll.

"This is a very sad day. It saddens me that we are providing such an excellent resource and that they are going to close us down," said headteacher Mr Ian Young.

And Mrs Jean Evans, chairman of governors, accused Bury LEA of divorcing Brandlesholme from its celebrated "Family of Schools". Falling numbers at Brandlesholme, and at neighbouring Old Hall and Woodbank schools, meant education bosses faced the options of closing all three schools and creating two new ones; amalgamating Old Hall and Brandlesholme on one site; amalgamating Woodbank and Brandlesholme, again to create one new school; or closing one school only.

The recommendation was to close Brandlesholme since it is the oldest building and has the lowest roll of all three schools.

A surprise last-minute motion to opt for amalgamation instead was narrowly outvoted at Wednesday's education and community services committee meeting.

As a result the school will close on August 31 next year. Pupils will transfer to Woodbank which will be extended and adapted to cater for 280 children. Brandlesholme's popular nursery will also be accommodated on the Woodbank site.

Mr Young said: "We are very, very aggrieved. The message that this decision sends to the wider community is that there are problems at our school."

Committee chairman Coun Andrea Hughes said: "This has been a very difficult decision and one which we took with a heavy heart. But parental preference, and standards and quality, are the guiding principles and we have a duty to act in the interests of efficient education for all our children."

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