THE FIGHT continues to prevent the closure of Great Alne Primary School.
Education chiefs at Warwickshire County Council are proposing to close the village school due to a significant reduction in pupils joining over the last five years – from 102 in January 2021 to 13 in January 2026.
An official WCC statement reads: “The high number of unfilled places at the school means that the school has become financially unviable. With no projected increase in numbers and a growing budget deficit, the school will not be able to sustain the financial and educational responsibilities to their pupils and staff.”
But this has not stopped parents, councillors and Stratford’s MP campaigning to keep the school open.
MP Manuela Perteghella has already taken the issue to Westminster, securing a debate in parliament and tabling a motion to highlight the pressure facing village schools like Great Alne.
She has also spoken at a recent public meeting held by WCC as part of the consultation on the proposed closure.
She said: “I strongly object to the proposed closure of Great Alne Primary School. Its current low pupil numbers do not reflect its long-term potential, nor the vital role it has played in the community.
“The recent Ofsted inspection of July 2025 demonstrates clearly that Great Alne Primary is on an upward trajectory. The school has made very good progress, and the report highlights a number of strengths that should give the council confidence in its future.
“The council should be supporting this school to improve and flourish. The Labour Government are forcing development onto our region, and we are going to need investment into new schools, roads and health facilities.”
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Reform administration at Shire Hall to halt the closure process and work with parents and the community on a plan to save the school.
Stratford District Councillor Thom Holmes added: “Great Alne Primary School is at the heart of the village. I have been raising concerns about what any closure would mean, from longer journeys for children to lasting damage to village life.
“I was lucky to grow up attending a rural village school, and that experience stays with you. We need a proper long-term plan for rural schools, not rushed decisions based on short-term numbers.”
