Lone pupil left at failing school

The near-empty school once had more than 90 pupils

An eight-year-old boy has been left as the only pupil at a closure-threatened school near Barnsley.

Worsbrough St Mary's Church of England school was put in special measures in March after a critical Ofsted report and its head teacher resigned in May.

Pupil numbers fell from 90 in January to 11 at the end of the school year and only one boy has returned this term.

His mother said she felt the school was her son's best option, but education chiefs fear he will be isolated.

Most of the other pupils agreed to transfer to another Church of England primary school at Tankersley after an Ofsted report in April said St Mary's was "failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education".

We have informed the parent of the child that it is not in his best educational interests to be the only pupil in the school Bob FitzHarris, CofE Education Board

The Diocese of Sheffield, which runs the school, asked Barnsley Council in June to start the closure procedure.

A consultation process is currently under way over proposals to close the school on 31 December.

However, the boy's mother said that despite her own concerns that he would be socially isolated, she thought St Mary's was the best school for him to be at.

The school has promised to stay open until at least the end of the year, as long as the boy remains there.

One teacher, two classroom assistants, dinner staff and a school secretary all remain at the school to look after the lone pupil.

Bob FitzHarris, of the Church of England Education Board, said: "We have informed the parent of the child that it is not in his best educational interests to be the only pupil in the school.

"However, we must respect her wishes and thereby keep it open and make sure health and safety is complied with and he has the best possible education."