Making plans for Burnholme Community College land (From York Press)

Making plans for Burnholme Community College land

9:44am Thursday 19th July 2012 in News By Mark Stead , Political Reporter

PLANS will emerge soon for the site of a York secondary school which will close in two years, education bosses have said.

City of York Council ’s cabinet this week agreed a phased closure of Burnholme Community College , which is the smallest secondary school in the city and will have only 270 out of a potential 600 students in September.

Coun Janet Looker , cabinet member for education, children and young people’s services, told the meeting which rubber-stamped the closure: “We are very committed to maintaining as much community use at the site as we can as it is clearly a very important resource.

“We are in discussions about the future use of the areas of playing fields and hopefully we will have a firm proposal to show in the very near future.”

The authority said it would cost at least £5.2 million to keep the school open until 2021 and falling pupil numbers had led to the decision.

Campaigners, who collected 1,996 names on a petition opposing Burnholme’s closure, claim children’s education will be harmed by the move and the school will be needed to cope with future population growth.