Struggling school faces closure

A failing school in Derbyshire has been earmarked for closure as part of an overhaul of education in the county.

Pupils at Deincourt Community School in North Wingfield will be relocated to a proposed new £17m redevelopment of Tibshelf Community School.

There are currently 473 pupils at the school which was placed in special measures by Ofsted in November 2007.

Tibshelf Community School would cater for some 840 pupils at a new site in Doe Hill Lane.

The proposals are being drawn up as part of the government's Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Low attainment

Cllr Alan Charles of Derbyshire County Council said: "We are carefully considering our options to make sure we offer students the best possible education in first-class facilities.

"Ofsted gave the school notice to improve in November 2006 and it has just been placed in special measures because inspectors felt standards of attainment were low among other concerns."

Under the proposals Deincourt Community School would close in August 2010.

The council said if Deincourt closed, part of the site could be used to construct a new £6.5m building for North Wingfield Primary School.

Councillors will meet on 26 February to decide whether to approve the plans and whether to hold a public consultation.