Bath Culverhay School closure decision to be reviewed

The boys' school had wanted to introduce girls to enable it to stay open

The decision to close a Bath boys' school is to be reviewed by the city council's scrutiny panel.

Councillors decided in November that Culverhay School would stop taking new pupils into Year 7 in September 2012.

The decision was made despite 74% of respondents in a public consultation saying they were against the school closing.

The call-in could see the decision reconsidered or referred to the full council for review.

It has been triggered by 24 councillors citing concerns over procedures, finances and transport issues.

The cross-party panel at Bath and North East Somerset Council will meet on 14 December to discuss the decision.

The boys' school, which is about half full, had considered introducing girls in a bid to remain open.

Another alternative was to make a co-educational academy in partnership with Bath Spa University with the possibility of an all-through school for ages two to 19.

Another option was to reduce the admission numbers to all Bath secondary schools to 160, except Culverhay and St Mark's, and make Culverhay and Oldfield co-educational.

But these were all rejected by the council's ruling Conservative administration at a cabinet meeting.

The council said closing Culverhay would allow the authority to reinvest £1.75m in supporting other schools.