'Money won the day': Residents' fury after council announces 'wonderful' school will close

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The announcement of a school in Wigan closing has caused uproar amongst residents. Abram Bryn Gates Primary School will close on August 31, 2023, “in the best interests of educational provision in the Abram area”, Wigan Council’s cabinet announced.

The Lily Lane based site was projected to be half-a-million pounds in debt by the 2024/2025 school year, which proved one of the biggest reasons for closure.

Council officers have used projection data to see that there will not be a large enough rise in demand for places that cannot be tackled by other schools in the area - despite what objectors say.

There are eight housing developments currently under construction in the area, but the council say none would need enough student places for the school to remain open. Read more: Struggling mum who had to ask Aldi cashier to stop scanning items left dumbstruck There are currently no plans to replace the school - which means the number of schools in the area will be cut from four to three.