Department for Education overturns decision to close Deeplish Primary Academy early for Christmas

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Deeplish Primary Academy

Deeplish Primary Academy will no longer close a week early for Christmas as the Department for Education has overturned the decision.

The Focus Trust, which runs the school and 14 others in the North West, had previously stated it would close its schools a week earlier than published term dates for Christmas.
 

Read more: Deeplish Primary Academy to close for Christmas a week earlier than other schoolsPublished: 23 November 2020

However in a new statement released on Monday night (23 November), the trust said it had received a formal letter directing them to overturn the decision.

The trust says following a board meeting and consultation with the Regional Schools Commissioner for Lancashire and West Yorkshire, it was not permitted to change its term dates for Covid-related reasons.

A further request for two inset days at the end of term was also subsequently rejected.

The chair of the trust board, Clive Davies, and Focus Trust’s chief executive, Helen Rowland, said: “All of our decisions are taken with the best interests of our children, staff and the community in mind.

“This has been a very disruptive and exceptional term for all concerned, with the impact of Covid-19 being felt throughout our schools, resulting in absenteeism and staff shortages across the board.

“We have been made aware, that under the Coronavirus Act 2020, individual trusts have no academy freedoms to make decisions for Covid related reasons, such as setting their own term dates.

“Although we are very disappointed at having to inform our staff families of a change to our plans, we accept the DfE’s position and have reverted to the original term days.”

Deeplish Primary Academy will now close on 18 December for the Christmas holidays.