Clarkefield Primary School closed as students move elsewhere
CLARKEFIELD Primary School has closed and will not accept enrolments for next year.
Education department spokesman Simon Craig told Macedon Ranges Leader the six students who were attending Clarkefield Primary last term were now at larger nearby primary schools, “where their academic and social needs are being met through daily interaction with other children and access to a wider range of high-quality programs”.
LACK OF STUDENTS CLOUDS FUTURE
WALKABLE VILLAGE DREAM FOR CLARKEFIELD
“The department will work with the Clarkefield community next year regarding the longer-term future of the school,” he said.
The Leader reported on August 10 that the future of the school was in doubt with just six students left and claims of bullying by parents.
Clarkefield Primary School typically has 30-40 students enrolled. It’s principal was on leave and the school was being administered by Riddells Creek Primary School principal Kim Ryan.
Clarkefield resident and former school parent Jessica Mason,.who enrolled her three children at Goonawarra Primary School earlier this year, said the closure was sad.
“I think some people have wanted to enrol for next year and been told they can’t,” she said.
“It’s just really sad for the Clarkefield community — this school has always played a central part.”
Ms Mason said she was disappointed the department hadn’t tried harder to turn around enrolments, or a workable solution hadn’t emerged from a town meeting in August.
“It’s all seemed pretty cloak and dagger,” she said.
Macedon State Labor MP Mary-Anne Thomas said that “decisions affecting the provision of education at Clarkefield Primary School must be guided by what is in the best interests of the children”.
“I would suggest that it is this very consideration that has lead to this decision,” she said.
VicRoads has yet to change the speed limits around the now closed school, with the Leader seing correspondence from the roads authority which stated that as it had not officially been closed, a speed limit of 60km/h still applied during school times.
MORE TO COME