Parents’ campaign after plans revealed to merge Ten Mile Bank and Hilgay schools

Parents of children at a small village school are hoping to save it after the academy trust which runs it announced plans to merge it with another one nearby.

It is the second time that parents of youngsters at Ten Mile Bank Riverside Academy have campaigned to keep the school open in recent years – after it was saved from closure following a consultation on its future back in 2017.

And now the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust (DEMAT) has again shared proposals to amalgamate Ten Mile Bank with Hilgay Riverside Academy, and close the Ten Mile Bank site, from September 1, 2024.

In a consultation document – seen by the Lynn News – DEMAT says that its plans have been driven by a “rapidly falling roll” and a forecast cumulative deficit of £267,902 by the end of 2026.

Only two pupils started in reception in September this year – with forecasts indicating there will be no increase in pupil numbers over the next five years, with the total roll fluctuating between 23 and 28 pupils, it adds.

The document says: “Children at Ten Mile Bank are educated in a two-class structure, which the trust do not believe to be the most suitable structure in which to educate children.

“An amalgamated school provides a sustainable opportunity to maintain an education provision for all pupils without the risk of standards declining due to the low numbers on roll.”

However, some parents – such as Isla Wicker – believe that the current set-up at Ten Mile Bank works well for their children.

Mrs Wicker, who has set up a group called ‘Save Our School - Ten Mile Bank Riverside Academy support group’ on Facebook, said her daughter Delilah benefits from the two-class structure.

“There’s a lot of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) kids at the school – some diagnosed, some aren’t,” Mrs Wicker said.

“A lot of the children benefit from the small school atmosphere. It’s like one big family there.

“The head teacher knows all the kids on a personal level – it’s a very unique school.”

Mrs Wicker said Delilah, who recently turned eight, is awaiting being tested for autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

“At Ten Mile Bank, there’s only two classes, so she recently moved up a year and up a class,” she added.

“She was anxious – it was a big move for her, but the school was supportive. She’s doing fine, but I’m quite worried as a small move like that affected her the way it did, how will she be with a big move?”

She is now calling on more parents to apply for their children to join Ten Mile Bank in a bid to keep it open.

It currently has 28 pupils on its roll – with a capacity of around 50 – whereas Hilgay already has 54 pupils.

“We only need 20 more children, it’s not an awful lot,” Mrs Wicker said.

Combining the two schools would make the full capacity a lot larger than Ten Mile Bank’s current size.

“I have looked around all around for another school of Ten Mile Bank’s sort of size, and I just can’t find anything remotely like it,” she said.

“I can only hope something can be done.”

Mrs Wicker, who currently travels from near Littleport to Ten Mile Bank to take her daughter to school everyday, said that parents were first made aware of the proposals in early November, before a consultation meeting with DEMAT officials clarified some points on November 29.

The consultation is currently open until January 5 at 5pm.

“We’ve basically got around a month to get 20 more children to join. It feels impossible – we need a miracle,” Mrs Wicker added.

“We need more children and it needs to happen before January 5.”

Having set up the Facebook group on Friday, she said it had been joined by 95 people by Monday.

“There’s a lot of comments from people explaining their reasons for wanting to keep it open.”

She also sent a letter to South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss, sharing the parents’ fears.

A spokesperson for Ms Truss said she had received the letter and will be following up with a meeting to “discuss and understand” their concerns.

DEMAT has been approached for comment but one had not been received by the time we went to press.

Its consultation document states: “At the end of the consultation period DEMAT will produce a consultation report and this will be considered by the DEMAT Trust Board.

“If the Trust Board decide to proceed with the proposal following consultation, it will prepare a business case to be considered by the DfE regional director.”

It adds that if the proposal to amalgamate the schools is accepted, it would be implemented from September 2024.