Save Queensway Primary School!

Leeds Local Authority have proposed a detrimental movement to permanent close Queensway Primary School. The proposal is due to a decrease in birth rate within the area and unfortunately Queensway is no longer seen as a viable source of income - but we believe that this is something that cannot happen. We fundamentally believe that schools are not for profit, they're to inspire life long learning. We all feel that this is a very short-sighted decision and that the authority should investigate alternative routes that would be less impactful to the vulnerable children within our local community.

Queensway has a disproportionately high number of children with complex special educational needs, as well as a large percentage of highly vulnerable families, and even more who are in receipt of pupil premium funding. The school is equipped with the appropriate purpose-built provision to help support these children, which no other school within our proximity is able to fulfil. The closure of this school would mean that our most vulnerable members of society will not receive the quality care and attention that they need, which is going to lead to devastating consequences to the families that we support. We are an inclusive school that support all children that walk through our doors and staff know each child on a personal level. These vital relationships support pupils within every aspect of school life, such as lessons to playtime, as well as extending into their home lives, supporting parents where they need it most with guidance, additional support and food bank services. Removing these established connections will have a detrimental impact on children's mental health and wellbeing. Further to this, places for older children in Key Stage 2 are unable to be fulfilled within immediate proximity to Queensway Primary School, which would mean that children are likely to be placed in schools that are a significant distance away from their homes. Not only would this be challenging for the pupil to travel so far each day, but will also disrupt parents who have jobs and rely on our school to be able to go to work, and support their families.
As well as the blatant safeguarding failure of our children, there is also the role Queensway has played historically within the community. Being a local school in a small town, Queensway has always been played an important role for the surrounding families. Over the years, thousands of families have come through Queensway and many of the current staff started as parent volunteers. The school often gets involved in surrounding events, supports local businesses and helps promote town-wide happenings, contributing significantly and supporting the growth of the local economy. The role that this establishment has played over the last 50 years has had an ongoing positive impact for many people and it is something that this community should not lose due to the incorrect decisions being made. Queensway takes part in local charity events, hosts other agencies such as a Children Centre and wrap around care in the form of Kangaroo Kids - although there are not current plans to remove these, it is highly likely that both of these will be rehoused too - removing further support for vulnerable families in the area.

We are asking everyone to please consider the impact that this closure will have on all of our children, families and staff - especially the most vulnerable members of society. Join the fight to overturn this decision and lets work together to keep Queensway Primary School open!
To quote a pupil at our school, “Don’t think about the children that aren’t here, think about the ones that are.”