SAVE QUEENSWAY PRIMARY SCHOOL - AGAIN!

This is the second time in just over two years that the Council has proposed to close the school and is stating budget constraints and low numbers of 4 and 5 year olds in the area as its reason for its actions. This is not acceptable and will have a devastating impact for our school community.

Queensway Primary School has more than 50% of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), a group that requires significant support. A recent parliamentary report highlights inadequacies in SEND provision on a national scale. Leeds is not an exception and the Council is currently asking both its primary and secondary schools to express interest in opening their own onsite provisions that the Council can utilise.

Closing Queensway would exacerbate this problem, displacing these vulnerable children and forcing them to travel out of area for the support they currently receive locally – support that is already in short supply. Transporting these children to other areas not only incurs additional costs but also disrupts their education and wellbeing. This closure merely shifts the financial burden rather than addressing the root issues, making it a shortsighted solution.

A recent OFSTED inspection (about to be published) has shown that Queensway has made incredible strides since the first closure consultation in 2022 – which it successfully fought and saw the Council say it wouldn’t put the School through this again.

We wholeheartedly believe that Queensway Primary School effectively meets the needs of its students, particularly those with SEND. The Council should develop a comprehensive plan to fund SEND provisions citywide, rather than focusing on the closure of one school, which would have significant negative impact on the local community. We urge Leeds City Council to take immediate action to prevent this closure and ensure the continued support and education of the children at Queensway.