Fight to save Brackley school building for community

Parents have staged protests and started a petition to save the school

A bid has been made to protect a school building earmarked for closure by having it registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

Southfield School in Brackley, Northamptonshire, is due to shut in July because there is not enough demand for places.

The ACV status would give the community a chance to bid for the building if it were placed on the market.

Brackley Town Council said the building could be developed as a creative hub.

Parents heard in October that the trustees of Southfield Primary Academy had decided it was not attracting enough pupils and was no longer viable.

An online petition to save it was set up and has now been signed by more than 1,300 people.

Many parents argued the school had improved significantly under the current head teacher and people moving into new houses in the town would need the places that were available.

Southfield Primary Academy is due to close in July

The ACV status would not guarantee that the building would stay open as a school, but would make it more likely that it would be retained for use by the local community rather than turned into residential or commercial space.

Brackley Town Council set up a "task and finish group" to explore the idea of applying for ACV status.

It reported back to the full council, stating the site has "promoted significant well-being while functioning as a school for the past century and can continue to promote well-being after the school closes."

It suggests turning the site into a cultural and creative hub, making use of the stage "that is unique in Brackley" and potentially offering film showings in a town that has no cinema.

The school's sports facilities could also be used by the community, and, according to the task and finish group, there are opportunities for the site to improve the town's youth, library and special educational needs facilities.

Brackley Town Council agreed to go ahead with the application

The town council has voted to allow the group to make an application for ACV status.

If granted, the status would mean West Northamptonshire Council would have to be informed about any proposal to sell the site.

The community would then have six months to prepare a bid for the property.