Consultation on the future of The Clere School, Burghclere

The Clere School is a community secondary school for pupils aged 11–16 in the rural village of Burghclere, north-west Hampshire, close to the West Berkshire border. It has capacity for 725 pupils, with a Published Admission Number of 145 places in each year group.

The school has experienced declining pupil numbers over a prolonged period. At the time of its July 2013 Ofsted inspection, when it was judged Good, there were 571 pupils on roll. Pupil numbers have remained below 500 during the last ten years, including periods when the school received positive Ofsted judgements. The Summer 2026 census recorded 366 pupils. On 3 September 2026, the day before the initial consultation began, there were 290 pupils on roll. By 8 October 2026, this had fallen further to 241.

The school’s budget first moved into deficit in 2012/13. Its cumulative deficit at the end of 2025/26 was approximately £2.7 million and, based on the school’s May 2026 budget submission, was forecast to increase to approximately £7 million by the end of 2028/29.

Following the January 2025 Ofsted inspection, the Department for Education issued an Academy Order in April 2025, and despite their efforts, no academy trust was secured to take on the school.

On 13 May 2026, the Chair of Governors, on behalf of the Governing Body, formally requested that Hampshire County Council initiate consultation on a proposal for closure because of concerns about the school’s long-term educational and financial viability. The initial non-statutory consultation ran from 4 September to 2 October 2026. Responses were considered in the 26 October report to the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, who approved proceeding to the statutory Public Notice stage.

Why is Hampshire County Council consulting on the future of The Clere School?
The consultation follows a request from The Clere School Governing Body for Hampshire County Council to consider closure of the school. Governors concluded that declining pupil numbers, significant financial challenges and concerns about long-term educational sustainability meant that closure should be considered through a formal consultation process.

The County Council considered these concerns, reviewed evidence and undertook a non-statutory consultation. Following consideration of the responses and the wider evidence, it continues to propose closure as the most viable and sustainable way of securing a strong long-term secondary education offer for children and families in the area. The statutory consultation allows further comments, objections and alternative proposals to be considered before a final decision is made.

Why is closure being proposed?
The proposal reflects a combination of sustained low pupil numbers, declining demand for places, significant financial pressures and concerns about the school’s ability to sustain a high-quality educational offer over the longer term. At the beginning of the 2026 academic year the school had 290 pupils on roll against a capacity of 725 places, representing approximately 60% surplus capacity and leaving 435 places unfilled. Current forecasts indicate that numbers are expected to remain significantly below capacity for the foreseeable future.

Schools receive most of their funding according to pupil numbers. As numbers fall, income reduces, while many leadership, staffing and premises costs cannot reduce at the same rate. The school’s budget first moved into deficit in 2012/13. Its accumulated deficit was £2.7 million at the end of 2025/26 and, based on the school’s May 2026 budget submission, was forecast to increase to approximately £7 million by the end of 2028/29. Current forecasts do not identify a realistic prospect of returning to a balanced budget within the planning period.

These pressures create challenges for the school in sustaining its educational offer over the longer term. Low pupil numbers and limited funding make it increasingly difficult to sustain specialist subject teaching, a broad and balanced curriculum, subject choices and the enrichment and extracurricular activities expected within a secondary school. The school’s curriculum and wider enrichment offer have remained narrower than those of other secondary schools because of these constraints. Recovering the accumulated deficit would require further reductions in expenditure, placing additional pressure on staffing and educational provision. This would make it harder to sustain school improvement and secure strong educational outcomes for pupils over time.

Other options have been considered, including academy conversion, federation and collaboration with neighbouring schools, alongside school improvement and financial recovery support. Following the Academy Order issued in April 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) sought a suitable academy sponsor. However, despite those efforts, no academy trust was willing to take on the school. While the Academy Order remains in place, alternative structural arrangements cannot be progressed by the County Council without the Department for Education’s agreement.

Changes to governance or leadership arrangements alone would not address the underlying low pupil numbers, resulting in reduced income and significant financial pressures. Although educational improvements have been recognised, these have not resulted in a recovery in pupil numbers or resolved the school’s long-term financial position. Taking these factors together, the County Council considers that closure, with the proposed transfer of pupils currently on roll to The Hurst School, provides the most viable and sustainable way of securing a strong long-term educational offer. The proposal remains subject to consultation and a final decision.

What evidence has informed the proposal?
The proposal has been informed by:

• pupil forecasts (including demographic trends and housing growth)
• admissions data (including historic and current pupil numbers and admission data)
• parental preference patterns
• financial information
• school improvement evidence
• local and cross-border place planning data
• fluctuating Ofsted outcomes

The Governing Body and Hampshire County Council considered this evidence when assessing the school’s long-term educational and financial sustainability. Pupil forecasts take account of demographic trends, housing growth and established patterns of parental preference and school attendance. Current forecasts indicate that pupil numbers are expected to remain significantly below the school’s capacity for the foreseeable future.

As school funding is largely based on pupil numbers, sustained low numbers reduce the income available to support staffing, curriculum delivery and wider educational opportunities. These pressures make it increasingly challenging to maintain a broad and balanced curriculum, sustain specialist subject expertise and achieve long-term financial sustainability.

Whilst educational improvements have been recognised, these have not altered the underlying pupil number and financial challenges. Taken together, these factors have contributed to significant concerns about the school’s ability to sustain its educational offer and further improvement over the longer term.

How have future pupil numbers been forecast and why is closure being considered despite the possibility of future growth?
Hampshire County Council regularly produces pupil forecasts to support its statutory responsibility to ensure sufficient school places are available. Its established forecasting approach draws on a range of information, including historic and current pupil numbers, birth and health registration data, children progressing through local primary schools, housing development, migration and patterns of parental preference. It also takes account of established school attendance patterns, including movement between Hampshire and neighbouring local authorities.

Housing growth is considered alongside other factors affecting demand, including declining birth rates and the numbers progressing through local primary schools. Some of the school’s linked primary schools have experienced declining pupil numbers, with smaller year groups expected to transfer to secondary education in future years. The additional demand arising from development depends on its scale, timing and rate of delivery, the households occupying the homes and the schools those families attend. Not all new homes will be occupied by families with school-age children, and some moves will involve families already living in the wider area.

The County Council recognises that future housing development could increase demand for school places. However, some potential developments have not yet progressed through the formal planning process, and their scale and delivery timescales remain uncertain. Their potential contribution must therefore be assessed using the information available, rather than assuming that all proposed development will be delivered within a particular period or generate sufficient additional demand at The Clere School.

Current forecasts indicate that pupil numbers at The Clere School are expected to remain significantly below its capacity for the foreseeable future. In carrying out its sufficiency duty, Hampshire County Council generally plans on the basis that schools operate at around 95% of capacity, allowing a degree of flexibility for parental preference, in-year admissions and population movement. For a school with a capacity of 725 places, this would equate to approximately 689 pupils. The Clere School has not operated at this level for at least the last 10 years, and current forecasts do not indicate a return to pupil numbers at, or close to, this level in the foreseeable future.

Whilst future demand cannot be predicted with complete certainty, the available evidence does not indicate sufficient recovery in pupil numbers to resolve the school’s underlying educational and financial challenges. The possibility of future growth must therefore be considered alongside the school’s ability to sustain its educational offer and manage its financial position.

Why is the school considered financially and educationally unsustainable?
Schools receive most of their funding through the national funding formula, with the majority allocated according to pupil numbers. As pupil numbers at The Clere School have fallen, income has reduced, while many leadership, staffing, premises and operating costs cannot reduce at the same rate.

The school’s budget first moved into deficit in 2012/13. Its accumulated deficit was £2.7 million at the end of 2025/26 and, based on budget planning information submitted by the school in May 2026, was forecast to increase to approximately £7 million by the end of 2028/29. Although some reductions have been achieved in individual years, a substantial deficit remains, with no realistic prospect of returning to a balanced budget within the current planning period.

These financial pressures create challenges for the school in sustaining its educational offer. In secondary schools, sufficient pupil numbers are needed to make individual subjects and courses viable within the available budget. Low numbers and reduced income make it increasingly difficult to:

• maintain a broad and balanced curriculum and a range of subject choices;
• recruit and retain specialist subject teachers and expertise;
• sustain enrichment and extracurricular activities; and
• maintain the staffing and resources needed to support ongoing school improvement.

The school’s curriculum and wider enrichment offer have remained narrower than those of other secondary schools because of these constraints. Recovering the accumulated deficit would require further reductions in expenditure, including staffing and educational provision. This would increase the challenge of maintaining curriculum breadth, specialist teaching and the wider opportunities expected within a secondary school in the longer term.

What alternatives to closure have been considered and why are they not considered viable long-term solutions?
A range of alternatives have been explored, including:

• academy conversion
• federation
• collaboration with neighbouring schools
• school improvement support
• financial recovery plans
• reducing the Published Admission Number (PAN)
• transitional funding arrangements

Following the Academy Order issued in April 2025, the Department for Education sought a suitable academy sponsor. However, despite those efforts, no academy trust was willing to take on the school. Whilst the Academy Order remains in place, Hampshire County Council cannot progress alternative structural arrangements, such as federation or an all-through school, without the Department for Education’s agreement.

Whilst federation or other collaborative arrangements may change how leadership, governance and resources are organised, they do not, in themselves, address the underlying low pupil numbers. As funding is largely linked to pupil numbers, the associated financial pressures and challenges in sustaining a broad and balanced curriculum and wider enrichment offer would remain.

The school has received extensive educational and financial support over a number of years. Although educational improvements have been recognised and some reductions in the deficit have been achieved in individual years, these measures have not reversed the decline in pupil numbers, nor resolved the school’s underlying financial position.

Reducing the Published Admission Number (PAN) has also been considered and acted upon, with a reduction to 100 places due from September 2027. However, reducing the number of places available for new admissions does not, by itself, increase the number of pupils attending the school or address low numbers across existing year groups. The low forecast pupil numbers and resulting lower levels of funding would not resolve the accumulated deficit or address the challenges of maintaining specialist teaching, curriculum breadth and wider educational opportunities.

Taken together, the school’s low pupil numbers, declining demand and significant financial pressures mean that these alternatives are not considered to provide a sustainable long-term solution. These concerns led the Governing Body to request consultation on a proposal for closure.

Have recent improvements and leadership changes at the school been taken into account?
Yes. Hampshire County Council recognises the considerable work undertaken by school leaders, governors and staff since the January 2025 Ofsted inspection and the educational improvements recognised through three Ofsted monitoring visits following the January 2025 inspection, and the recent Section 5 inspection. However, the proposal relates not only to educational performance, but also to declining pupil numbers, financial sustainability and the school’s ability to maintain its educational offer over the longer term. Whilst improvements have been recognised, these have not reversed the continued decline in pupil numbers nor resolved the underlying financial challenges.

With pupil numbers forecast to remain low, the associated funding pressures would continue to limit the school’s capacity to sustain specialist teaching, a broad and balanced curriculum and further improvement. The recognised progress has therefore been considered alongside, rather than separately from, these longer-term challenges.

What efforts have been made to increase pupil numbers and promote the school?
Responsibility for promoting the school and increasing pupil numbers rests with the Governing Body and school leadership, who determine the school’s recruitment, marketing and community engagement strategies.

Hampshire County Council is responsible for ensuring sufficient school places are available and cannot actively promote one school over another. It has, however, worked closely with The Clere School over a number of years, providing educational, leadership and financial management support, particularly following the January 2025 Ofsted inspection. Whilst improvements have been recognised, pupil numbers have continued to decline, and the associated financial pressures remain.

The proposal follows the Governing Body’s request that closure be considered because of concerns about the school’s long-term educational and financial sustainability.

Why was the consultation launched when it was?
Following the Governing Body’s formal request on 13 May 2026, Hampshire County Council needed to carefully consider the request, review the supporting educational and financial evidence, obtain the necessary approvals and develop a proposal supported by consultation information.

The timing also reflected Department for Education guidance that, where possible, school organisation consultations should avoid school holiday periods so that parents, pupils, staff and other stakeholders have the opportunity to participate. The initial consultation therefore ran from 4 September to 2 October 2026, following completion of this preparatory work and the summer holidays. This balanced the need to consider the evidence and prepare the proposal with ensuring that the consultation took place during term time, allowing stakeholders to review the information, ask questions and share their views before any decision was made on whether to proceed to the statutory stage.

What is the proposed timeline and decision-making process?

• Non-statutory consultation: 4 September - 2 October 2026
• Executive Member consideration: 26 October 2026
• Statutory consultation 6 November – 4 December 2026
• Final decision - 23 December 2026
• Proposed closure date: 31 August 2027

Can I suggest alternative options?
Yes. Consultation responses can include support, objections and alternative proposals for consideration.

What would happen to pupils currently attending The Clere School if the proposal proceeds?
Subject to a final decision to close The Clere School, Hampshire County Council is proposing that all pupils on roll at The Clere School at the point of closure would automatically transfer to the roll of The Hurst School from 1 September 2027.

Accommodation planning is underway to ensure sufficient capacity is available for the additional pupils. Every effort will be made to avoid education being delivered across two sites, however, temporary use of the existing Clere site may be required while longer-term accommodation arrangements are implemented. If required, these arrangements would seek to maintain established cohorts and minimise disruption to pupils’ education, wellbeing and pastoral support.

Where would my child be educated from September 2027?
The current proposal is that pupils on roll at The Clere School at the time of closure would automatically transfer to the roll of The Hurst School. Subject to a final decision to close The Clere School, every effort will be made to enable all year groups transferring from The Clere School to be educated at The Hurst School’s site from September 2027.

Detailed accommodation assessments are underway to determine the most appropriate arrangements to support additional pupils and ensure sufficient teaching accommodation, specialist teaching spaces and supporting facilities are available for the effective operation of the school. Additional accommodation will be required before all pupils can be accommodated on The Hurst School site. While all efforts will be made to avoid this scenario, education may need to continue on the existing Clere site for a temporary period following closure while accommodation solutions are implemented. Any pupils temporarily educated there would be on the roll of The Hurst School and under its leadership and oversight.

If temporary use of the Clere site is required, pupils will remain in established cohorts. Hampshire County Council, The Clere School and The Hurst School will work closely together to ensure continuity of education, pastoral support and operational arrangements, with the aim of minimising disruption to pupils.

I am applying for a Year 7 place for September 2027. What should I do?
Parents should have completed their main round application by the deadline of 31 October 2026.

Whilst the school remains open, parents can name the school as one of their preferences, and the application will be processed in line with published arrangements. Those parents who have named the school as a preference, have been contacted by the County Council’s Admissions Team to confirm they are happy with the preferences they have expressed in advance of the deadline.

Parents who have missed the deadline, and are making a late application, are encouraged to use all three preferences on their application form and are entitled to name the school as a preference. The application will be processed in line with published arrangements.

Can families make an in-year application for other schools?
Yes. Parents may submit in-year applications for places at other schools at any time.

What appeal rights would parents have?
Parents retain the right of appeal where an application to any school is refused, as part of the normal admissions process.

There is no appeal against the proposal itself or against an offer made through closure arrangements.

What places are available in West Berkshire schools?
Families should contact West Berkshire Council directly for the most up-to-date information regarding available school places.

What will happen to The Clere School’s catchment area?
Subject to the outcome of the statutory process, it is proposed that Vernham Dean Gillum’s Church of England (CE) Primary School and Hurstbourne Tarrant CE Primary School be linked with Testbourne Community School, and those individual school catchment areas form part of an enlarged catchment area for Testbourne Community School.

It is proposed that Burghclere Primary School, Ashford Hill Primary School, Woolton Hill Junior School, Ecchinswell and Sydmonton Church of England (CE) Primary School, Kingsclere CE Primary School and St Martin’s East Woodhay CE Primary School be linked with The Hurst School, and those individual school catchment areas form part of an enlarged catchment area for The Hurst School. The Clere School - Catchment Maps

These proposals have been developed taking account of school place sufficiency, current and projected pupil demand, geography, transport considerations and the long-term sustainability of secondary school provision across the area. Early discussions with the relevant primary phase schools indicated support for the proposed future admission and catchment arrangements. These proposed changes would need to be agreed by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator for 2027/28 and 2028/29 as part of a variation application and then will be determined as part of the statutory consultation on admission arrangements in 2029/30 by the governing body of Testbourne Community School (as admission authority for the school) and Hampshire County Council (as admission authority for The Hurst School).

Under the proposal, all pupils on roll at The Clere School would automatically transfer to the roll of The Hurst School from the point of closure, and therefore, these proposed changes to admission arrangements will not affect those children in Years 7-10 who currently attend The Clere School in the academic year 2026/27.

How and when would parents receive further information if closure is approved?
Information regarding admissions and the impact on applications, transport, transition arrangements and support would be shared as early as possible following any final decision.

How would children with SEND, EHCPs and other additional needs be supported?
Supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), anxiety and other additional needs is a key priority. It is recognised that established relationships, familiar routines and existing support arrangements can be particularly important for these pupils.

Should the proposal proceed, The Clere School, The Hurst School and Hampshire County Council would work closely with pupils, parents and carers, and relevant professionals to identify individual needs and concerns and develop appropriate transition arrangements. Schools would share information about pupils’ needs, existing provision and successful support strategies to support continuity of educational and pastoral support wherever possible. This would include pupils receiving SEND support who do not have an EHCP.

Whilst detailed transition arrangements have not yet been developed, these would be expected to include opportunities for pupils and families to visit the school, meet staff, receive information and have the opportunity to raise questions ahead of any move. Particular consideration would be given to pupils who find change more challenging, with the aim of minimising disruption to their education, support and wellbeing.

For pupils with EHCPs, statutory review processes would be undertaken, with parents and carers fully involved throughout. The County Council’s SEND team would be involved in considering individual needs and how provision would continue in any future placement.

What would happen for children with EHCPs?
Should the proposal proceed, annual reviews would be prioritised to consider each child’s individual needs, the provision set out in their EHCP and appropriate future placement arrangements. Parents and carers would be fully involved throughout, and statutory consultation would take place with suitable schools. The County Council’s SEND team would work with families and relevant professionals to plan the transition and support continuity of provision.

How would Hampshire County Council support pupils’ wellbeing and transition?
Should the proposal proceed, Hampshire County Council would work closely with The Clere School and The Hurst School to plan transition arrangements, with pupils’ emotional wellbeing and continuity of pastoral support as key priorities. Schools would work with pupils, parents and carers to identify concerns and pupils who may need additional support, particularly those experiencing anxiety or finding change more challenging.

Whilst detailed arrangements have not yet been developed, these would be expected to include opportunities to visit the school, meet staff and raise questions ahead of any move. Information about existing pastoral support and successful support strategies would be shared to help minimise disruption and support pupils as they settle into their new school.

How would pupils who benefit from The Clere School’s smaller environment be supported?
The County Council recognises that many families value The Clere School’s smaller setting and that moving to a larger school may be a particular concern for some pupils. Should the proposal proceed, The Clere School, The Hurst School and the County Council would work with pupils, parents and carers to identify individual concerns and support needs. Transition planning would seek to preserve continuity of pastoral support, friendship groups and individual support arrangements wherever possible, with particular consideration given to pupils who may find the change more challenging.

Would friendship groups be kept together where possible?
Should the proposal proceed, the responsibility for transition planning would involve leaders of The Hurst Schol and The Clere School working together. It is expected that consideration will be given to maintaining friendship groups wherever possible and practicable, recognising the importance of established relationships in helping pupils settle into a new school. Transition arrangement would be expected to consider maintaining these relationships and minimising disruption alongside pupils’ individual needs.

How would continuity of education, GCSE courses and option choices be maintained?
Should the proposal proceed, Hampshire County Council, The Clere School and The Hurst School would work closely together to develop transition arrangements with the aim of minimising disruption to pupils’ education. Particular consideration would be given to pupils studying GCSE and other examination courses, recognising the importance of continuity of learning and examination preparation.

Wherever possible, arrangements would seek to support continuity of examination courses and option choices. Whilst there may be differences between the subjects offered by individual schools, Hampshire County Council would work with receiving schools to understand any implications for pupils and seek appropriate solutions to minimise disruption to their education and examination programmes.

How would GCSE courses and option choices be protected?
The Council would work closely with receiving schools to:

• maintain GCSE pathways where possible
• minimise disruption
• support continuation of examination courses
• protect option choices wherever practicable

Pupils taking subjects early, would also need to be considered individually as part of transition planning. The same principle would apply: examination-course continuity and minimising disruption to preparation and completion would be prioritised.

Would any financial support be available for uniforms or other school-related costs?
Hampshire County Council recognises the potential costs families could face if pupils need to change schools, including school uniform, PE kit, equipment and other school-related items. Should the proposal proceed, these matters would be considered as part of implementation planning, including what options may be available to help minimise the impact on families where possible. Further information would be provided following any decision to close the school.

Would vulnerable pupils and families with particularly complex circumstances receive individual support?
Yes. Should the proposal proceed, The Clere School, The Hurst School and Hampshire County Council would work with pupils, parents and carers, and relevant professionals to consider individual circumstances and identify appropriate support. Particular consideration would be given to existing support arrangements and any additional needs arising from the transition, with the aim of maintaining continuity of support and minimising disruption to pupils’ education and wellbeing.

What transport support would be available if the proposal proceeds?
Eligibility would be assessed in accordance with legislation and Hampshire County Council's school transport policy. Each pupil's circumstances would be assessed individually.

When considering the rurality of an area we recognise that distance alone does not necessarily reflect the practical journey to school for families living in rural communities. Under the School Transport Policy, the safety of the available walking route is also relevant. Therefore, where a pupil lives within the statutory walking distance but the available walking route is assessed as unsafe according to the criteria set out in Road Safety GB guidance, transport support may still be available.  Each application would be considered on its individual circumstances, enabling the particular geography and availability of rural routes to be taken into account rather than relying solely on the measured distance from home to school.

What if my child attends a school outside Hampshire?
Eligibility is determined by distance and suitability rather than county boundaries. A school outside Hampshire may still be eligible for transport support if it is the nearest suitable school and other criteria are met.

What transport arrangements would apply to pupils with EHCPs?
For transport purposes, the school named in Section I of an EHCP is generally regarded as the nearest suitable school. Transport is provided to the nearest suitable school where the other eligibility criteria are met.

If transport is approved, would it continue throughout secondary school?
Yes, it would continue through to the end of year 11 as long as the student was attending the same school, unless there is a significant change of circumstances such as a change of address. If there is a significant change a new application must be made which will be assessed individually.

How would The Hurst School accommodate additional pupils?
The Hurst School currently has a capacity of 1,080 pupils. Detailed accommodation assessments are underway to determine the most appropriate arrangements to support additional pupils and ensure sufficient teaching accommodation, specialist teaching spaces and supporting facilities are available for the effective operation of the school. Additional accommodation would be required before all pupils could be accommodated on The Hurst School site. Subject to a final decision to close The Clere School, every effort would be made to enable all year groups transferring from The Clere School to be educated at The Hurst School’s site from September 2027.

Why is August 2027 proposed as the closure date?
The proposed closure date of 31 August 2027 would allow pupils to complete the 2026/27 academic year before automatically transferring to the roll of The Hurst School from 1 September 2027, subject to a final decision. This timing would support a planned transition and provide time to develop arrangements for pupils’ education and support, while reducing the risk of prolonged uncertainty for pupils, families and staff.

What would happen if accommodation at The Hurst School is not ready by September 2027?
Subject to a final decision to close The Clere School, every effort would be made to enable all transferring pupils to be educated on The Hurst School site from September 2027. However, temporary use of the existing Clere site may be required while additional accommodation is put in place. Any pupils temporarily educated there would be on the roll of The Hurst School and under its leadership and oversight. Arrangements would seek to maintain established cohorts and minimise disruption to pupils’ education, wellbeing and pastoral support.

Has a phased closure or delaying closure been considered?
Yes. Alternative implementation options, including a phased closure or a later closure date, have been considered. However, these would not address the underlying low pupil numbers, financial pressures and challenges in sustaining the school’s educational offer. The County Council does not currently consider these options to provide a sustainable solution. The proposed closure date of 31 August 2027 would allow pupils to complete the academic year and support a planned transition, while reducing the risk of prolonged uncertainty for pupils, families and staff. No final decision has been made, and comments on alternative arrangements can be submitted through the statutory consultation.

What will happen to staff if the proposal proceeds?
Should closure proceed, formal consultation would take place with staff and recognised trade unions. Appropriate support, including redeployment support will be provided to all staff affected if the proposed closure goes ahead.

How has Hampshire considered the impact of uncertainty on pupil numbers and staffing?
The Council recognises that uncertainty may affect both staff retention and parental decisions. The current consultation seeks to provide greater clarity regarding the school’s future, avoiding a prolonged period of uncertainty and enable informed parental decision-making. Hampshire County Council will continue to work closely with school leaders to support pupils and staff throughout the consultation process. Should a decision ultimately be made to proceed with closure, the necessary staff consultation would begin as soon as possible following that decision. Staff would be supported through the appropriate consultation and redeployment processes, providing as much time as possible for them to consider their individual circumstances and plan for the 2027/28 academic year.

What would happen to the school site if closure is approved?
If closure is approved, temporary use of the existing Clere site may be required to accommodate pupils on the roll of The Hurst School while longer-term accommodation arrangements are implemented. Any longer-term future use of the site would be considered separately following a closure decision and would be subject to the necessary approvals and statutory processes.

Why does the consultation not consider alternative uses of the site?
The current consultation relates solely to whether The Clere School should continue to operate as a mainstream secondary school. No decision has been made regarding the future use of the site. Should the proposal proceed, any future consideration of the site would be subject to separate legal, statutory and governance processes, including engagement with the Department for Education where required. Suggestions received regarding potential future educational, community and recreational uses have been noted and would form part of any future consideration should further decisions regarding the site become necessary.

What do the pupil forecasts show for The Clere School?
Current pupil forecasts indicate that numbers at The Clere School are expected to remain significantly below its capacity of 725 places. The available evidence does not indicate a sufficient recovery in pupil numbers to resolve the school’s underlying educational and financial challenges.

This sits within a longer-term pattern of low pupil numbers, rather than being solely a reflection of pupils leaving during the initial non statutory consultation. Pupil numbers have remained below 500 over the last ten years, including periods when the school received positive Ofsted judgements. There were 290 pupils on roll on 3 September 2026, the day before the initial consultation began, leaving 435 places unfilled and resulting in approximately 60% surplus capacity. These are recorded pupil numbers, rather than forecasts, but provide important context for understanding the school’s position.

The forecasts take account of children progressing through local primary schools, demographic trends, housing growth and established patterns of parental preference and school attendance, including movement between Hampshire and neighbouring authorities. Some of the school’s linked primary schools have experienced declining pupil numbers and required Published Admission Number (PAN) reductions. As a result, smaller year groups are expected to transfer to secondary education in future years.

Attendance at a linked primary school does not necessarily translate into demand for a place at The Clere School, as families may express preferences for other secondary schools. An important factor is the established pattern of parental preference and cross-border pupil movement. On average, around 60 secondary-age pupils per year group living within The Clere School’s catchment area attend schools in West Berkshire and, to a lesser extent, Wiltshire. This pattern has been evident over a sustained period and is taken into account when forecasting future demand.

The table below sets out the Year 7 forecast for the school as of Spring 2026.

An initial non-statutory consultation ran from Friday 4 September 2026 to Friday 2 October 2026, following the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services (ELMCS) approval in September 2026.

A consultation webpage containing detailed information on the proposal was published. Also available was a Frequently Asked Questions document and details of three drop-in events that those affected by the proposals could attend to meet with Hampshire County Council officers to discuss the proposals in person.

Following the consultation, all comments were reviewed and analysed. A report was written and presented on the 26 October 2026 ELMCS decision day. In the report, Hampshire County Council proposed the publication of a Public Notice to close The Clere School with effect from 31 August 2027.