An empty playground, no happy sounds of pupils' laughter and no school bell to bring them all back into class - such things are now a thing of the past for the former Pinfold Primary in Scarisbrick which officially closed yesterday.

As one young mum whose moved for Litherland to Scarisbrick told QLocal reporter Roger Blaxall yesterday morning: "We didn't even consider Pinfold when looking for a school for my daughter it was that small. She is now at Ormskirk CE and very happy there."

From LCC re closure proposal:

The proposal is to close Pinfold Primary School in West Lancashire, with effect from 29 March 2024, reopening as satellite provision for Kingsbury Primary School with effect from 1 April 2024.

Pupil numbers and forecasts Pinfold Primary School is a small, rural community primary school within West Lancashire.

The school has seen a reduction in the number of pupils on roll from 46 in September 2014 to four in September 2023.

Current numbers Whilst the pupil numbers have declined in this rural area, the school's numbers have fallen to a greater extent than those in the other schools. With only one pupil currently on roll and in the process of being transferred to Kingsbury Primary School, and no significant housing planned for the area, this position is unsustainable.

Alternative provision A vitally important feature of any consultation on the possible closure of a maintained school is the availability of alternative provision for the pupils.

Consideration must be given to the types of schools available, the distances that pupils will need to travel, and the standards of provision offered by any receiving schools. Whilst pupil numbers in the area have declined over recent years, the capacity within the other two schools in the planning area would provide sufficient capacity for the Pinfold Primary School pupil.

The nearest school is St Mark’s primary school and is 1.5 miles from Pinfold with 51 pupils on roll. The school has capacity for 105. The closest non-faith school is 2.3 miles away at Ormskirk West End. This school has 93 pupils on roll but has capacity for 210 children. St Mary’s Scarisbrick has 87 pupils on roll and capacity for 105 children. This school is 2 miles from Pinfold.

Based on current and projected pupil numbers, there should be sufficient places in all cohorts of the other schools to accommodate the pupils if Pinfold Primary School was to close.