Lowick Cluster of Social Enterprises

Phase 1: The campaign to halt the closure

In January 2003 Lowick CE Primary School was reviewed for closure in response to ‘surplus primary school places in the Ulverston area’ despite having only one surplus place itself. This review – the second – took place following a community campaign against the closure that had been on going for several years.  The County Council first proposed closure of the school in 1999.  At this point the local community objected on the basis that the closure decision review was a seriously flawed process.  In this context the pupils had applied for legal aid and taken the Cumbria Schools Organisation Committee (SOC) to the High Court for a Judicial Review.  As part of the review process the pupils were advised to agree on an out-of-court settlement, which entailed their costs being paid by Cumbria County Council, another opportunity to present their case to the SOC, and another decision meeting to be held by the SOC.  All parties agreed to this process, although the local community now regrets it because in their view in the second meeting the SOC were presented with the same inaccurate data as previously.  Leaving aside the accuracy of this view, after the required consultation period the decision for closure was again made by the SOC, and implemented in September 2004.