Governing Board of Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton Schools Federation and North Yorkshire Council Statutory Notice and Statutory Proposals
Proposals to restructure the federation into separate infant and junior schools with Bainbridge Church of England (VC) Primary and Nursery School becoming an infant school (with an age range of three to seven) and Askrigg (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School becoming a junior school (with an age range of seven to 11), and to close West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School
Part one
Notice is given in accordance with section 19(3) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that the governing board intends to change the age range of Bainbridge Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary and Nursery School, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3EL from three to 11 years to three to seven years from 1 September 2026. The current admission number for the school is 12 and the proposed admission number will be 15.
Part two
Notice is given in accordance with section 19(3) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that the governing board intends to change the age range of Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Yorebridge, Askrigg, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3BJ from four to 11 years to seven to 11 years from 1 September 2026. The current admission number for the school is 12 and the proposed admission number will be 15.
Part three
Notice is given in accordance with section 15(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AE, intends to discontinue West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School, West Burton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4JY from 31 March 2026.
The proposal also includes revised school catchment area arrangements that would apply.
Copies of the complete proposal can be obtained by contacting us here.
Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by contacting us here by 5pm on 6 February 2026.
Signed: Chair of Governors, BAWB Federation and B. Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), North Yorkshire Council
Publication Date: 12 January 2026
The proposals contained in parts one, two and three of this notice are related.
Statutory proposals
Proposals to restructure the federation into separate infant and junior schools with Bainbridge Church of England (VC) Primary and Nursery School becoming an infant school (with an age range of three to seven) and Askrigg (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School becoming a junior school (with an age range of seven to 11), and to close West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School
Part one
Change of age range of Bainbridge Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary and Nursery School from three to 11 years to three to seven years
and
Part two
Change of age range of Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary School from four to 11 years to seven to 11 years
School and local authority details
Proposals published by the Governing Board of BAWB (Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton) Schools Federation to change the age range of Bainbridge Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary and Nursery School, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3EL from 1 September 2026
Proposals published by the Governing Board of BAWB (Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton) Schools Federation to change the age range of Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Yorebridge, Askrigg, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3BJ from four to 11 years to seven to 11 years from 1 September 2026.
Description of alteration and evidence of demand
It is proposed to change the age range of Bainbridge Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary and Nursery School from three to 11 years to three to seven years from 1 September 2026 and to change the age range of Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary from four to 11 years to seven to 11 years from 1 September 2026.
The current admission number for both schools is 12 and the proposed admission number for both schools will be 15.
Objectives
During summer 2024, the council received legal advice that the model that had been established by the federation was not compliant with the provisions of the Education Act 1996 and the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 which govern the arrangements for school admissions and registration. The advice, which was partly informed by information provided by the Department for Education, noted that pupils are required to receive their education at the school at which they are registered.
This advice means that the current organisational arrangements within the federation are not compliant with the regulations and that the Federated Governing Board needs to implement a change so that the arrangements become compliant.
The council advised the federated governing board of possible solutions/ restructure options, set out below, which the federated governing board has carefully considered.
Following its consideration of the options the federated governing board has submitted proposals for the closure of West Burton Church of England (VC) Primary School and for the establishment of separate infant and junior schools and believes that this option will enable to best meet the needs of the community and to continue to provide a high standard of education to pupils.
The effect on other educational institutions within the area.
There is not expected to be any effect on other schools, academies and educational institutions, other than those covered by these proposals.
Project costs and indication of how these will be met, including how long term value for money will be achieved
Capital position
Capital investment is not included within the proposal.
Revenue position
School budgets are funded largely by pupil numbers so the proposal would not lead to an increase in revenue funding. The school organisation proposal of infant and junior schools provides the same level of funding across the federation as that currently received by the separate schools with the lump sum funding retained for each school. In an amalgamation of two schools (Option 3 above), one school’s lump sum would cease and whilst an amalgamated school across two sites may receive split site funding, this would be a reduced funding amount compared to the lump sum funding for the two schools. Under the Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton proposal all funding for West Burton CE (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School would cease.
Federated governing boards can request to amalgamate their individual school budgets; these arrangements could continue under the infant and junior school proposals.
Based on the proposal taking effect September 2026 and other things being equal, the federated governing board has determined the optimum funding position, based on best estimates of revenue funding for each financial year, for the individual schools within the federation. Irrespective of this school organisation proposal, the federation governing boards are continuously required to oversee financial management and this includes considering efficiency actions where improvements are identified as being necessary in the school financial forecast.
Implementation plan
The proposals contained in Parts one, two and three are related.
Under the proposal, both the infant and junior schools would serve the catchment areas separately served by each of Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton’s three separate primary schools. For this reason, the catchment areas would be merged, with each extended to include the others. These arrangements would be implemented from September 2026 only in the event of the infant/ junior restructure. The shared catchment area is shown on the map accompanying this document.
Statement explaining the procedure for responses: support, objections and comments
Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by contacting us here by 5pm on 6 February 2026.
Part three
Discontinuance (Closure) of West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School
Contact details
Proposal published by North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AE, to discontinue West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School, West Burton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4JY from 31 March 2026.
Implementation
It is proposed to close the school from 31 March 2026.
The proposals contained in parts one, two and three of this notice are related.
Reason for closure
In 2013 Askrigg and Bainbridge schools formed a collaboration and in 2014 West Burton joined the collaboration. In 2016 the BAWB Federation was created and “BAWB” refers to the first letter of each school name. Due to the organisation arrangements that were implemented by the federation, 22 pupils received their education at the school and the remaining pupils were transported to the other schools within the federation, where they received their education alongside peers from other schools. West Burton Church of England (VC) Primary School was last inspected by Ofsted in June 2023 which judged the overall effectiveness of the school to be Good.
The Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton federated governing board temporarily suspended teaching at the West Burton Church of England (VC) Primary School site with effect from 1 September 2024, and transported pupils registered at the school to either the Bainbridge or Askrigg sites, according to their age. This decision was taken because of the low numbers on the school roll, and because of issues associated with the transport of pupils between the various school sites, this included a loss of learning time within the school day. The federated governing board considered that the decision was necessary to ensure the continued provision of high-quality education within the federation.
Pupil numbers and admissions
The numbers (distinguishing between compulsory and non-compulsory school age pupils), age range, sex, and special educational needs of pupils (distinguishing between boarding and day pupils) for whom provision is currently made at the school.
As at October 2025, there are 14 pupils on roll at the school, of which 13 are of compulsory school age. Of the 14 pupils, six pupils are male, and eight pupils are female.
- Reception
- pupils - 1
- published admission number - 12
- Year 1
- pupils - 2
- published admission number - 12
- Year 2
- pupils - 1
- published admission number - 12
- Year 3
- pupils - 1
- published admission number - 12
- Year 4
- pupils - 2
- published admission number - 12
- Year 5
- pupils - 3
- published admission number - 7
- Year 6
- pupils - 4
- published admission number - 7
Total number of pupils - 14
The school’s age range is four to 11 years, and provision is available for boys and girls. There is no boarding provision. Information on special educational needs of pupils is not provided as this would contravene the Data Protection Act.
Displaced pupils
There are currently three neighbouring schools located within 10 miles of West Burton Primary School, including the two federation schools at Askrigg and Bainbridge. Across the three schools there is a combined net capacity of 163 places. There is currently a total of 65 surplus places.
As noted above, the federated governing board’s proposal regarding the closure of West Burton Church of England (VC) Primary School forms part of a series of linked proposals which includes a proposal for the school’s catchment area to be combined with those of Bainbridge and Askrigg.
The council will engage with the parents of all pupils who are registered on West Burton’s roll to discuss the requirement for them to apply for an alternative school place should a closure be agreed, including if it is their intention to transfer to either of the proposed infant or junior schools in the federation.
Impact on the community
In some communities the school is the only meeting space. West Burton has a Village Hall with main hall, committee room, kitchen, toilets and baby changing facilities. Several groups meet there for bowls, yoga, parent and toddlers, badminton, art, dancing and monthly lunches.
The school building at West Burton would no longer be used by the federation if the proposed closure of the school was implemented. The West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School site is managed but not owned by the council. The school site is wholly owned by a charitable trust and will revert to the trust if a decision is made for it to close.
Whilst the impact on the wider economic and social sustainability of the community is an important consideration, the key consideration is to determine whether the proposal is in the best interests of children’s education.
Rural primary schools
West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School is a rural school. The Department for Educations guidance (Opening and closing maintained schools. Statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers, October 2024) notes that decision makers are expected to adopt a presumption against the closure of rural schools. However, the guidance confirms that this does not mean that a rural school will never close but that the case for closure should be strong and clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area.
The school has a capacity for 51 pupils and there are currently 15 pupils on the school’s roll.
In 2013 Askrigg and Bainbridge schools formed a collaboration and in 2014 West Burton joined the collaboration. In 2016 the Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton Federation was created and “BAWB” refers to the first letter of each school name. Due to the organisation arrangements that were implemented by the federation, 22 pupils received their education at the school and the remaining pupils were transported to the other schools within the federation, where they received their education alongside peers from other schools. West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School was last inspected by Ofsted in June 2023 which judged the overall effectiveness of the school to be Good.
The Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton federation’s governing board temporarily suspended teaching at the West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School site with effect from 1 September 2024 and transported pupils registered at the school to either the Bainbridge or Askrigg sites, according to their age. This decision was taken because of the low numbers on the school roll and because of issues associated with the transport of pupils between the various school sites, this included a loss of learning time within the school day. The federated governing board considered that the decision was necessary to ensure the continued provision of high quality education within the federation.
There are currently three neighbouring schools located within 10 miles of West Burton Primary School, including the two federation schools at Askrigg and Bainbridge. Across the three schools there is a combined net capacity of 163 places. There is currently a total of 65 surplus places.
The council will engage with the parents of all pupils who are registered on West Burton’s roll to discuss the requirement for them to apply for an alternative school place should a closure be agreed, including if it is their intention to transfer to either of the proposed infant or junior schools in the federation.
As noted above, the federated governing board’s proposal regarding the closure of West Burton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School forms part of a series of linked proposals which includes a proposal for the school’s catchment area to be combined with those of Bainbridge and Askrigg.
Balance of denominational provision
The Church of England Diocese of Leeds has expressed no specific concerns about the impact on proportionality of places in this area.
Travel
There are currently three neighbouring schools located within ten miles of West Burton Primary School, including the two federation schools at Askrigg and Bainbridge.
Eligibility for assistance with home to school travel would be determined in accordance with the council’s home to school travel policy, including any decision to provide discretionary eligibility linked to the federated governing board’s proposals.
It is proposed that special considerations or discretion be given to pupils already on roll at the point that consultation was requested in September 2025. It is proposed that the council provide discretionary travel for children, already assessed as eligible for travel and on roll at schools on 1 September 2026, within the federation schools for the duration of their education at the schools within the same federation, subject to there being no change in their circumstances. This will enable the schools to move to compliant arrangements and would be a time limited discretionary provision so that children already on roll could maintain continuity of education within the federations that they are already registered, in the event that the school organisation proposals result in them having to move to a different school within the federation due to the age range changes. An example would be a current Year 1 child who attends a primary school but who is required to move to an infant school for Year 2 before returning the nearest suitable school at the time of the transfer. This acknowledges the council’s commitment to continue eligibility under the 2019 policy for children in schools before September 2024.
Any new applications for assistance with home to school travel to either school received after 1 September 2026 would only be considered under the current home to school travel policy, unless part of a linked proposal that is decided by the council.
Procedure for making representations (objections and comments)
Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by contacting us here by 5pm on 6 February 2026.
Publication Date: 12 January 2026