Ever since I was made aware of the challenge of the Ofsted reviews and falling pupil numbers at Southfield School in December 2021, I have been working to support staff and students to keep the school going. I wrote to the Government with concerns about the status of the school and later in support of the Council's own recovery plan, put forward by Cllr Fiona Baker.

Unfortunately, the trustees have recently decided that the school is no longer viable. I have continued to work closely with Cllr Baker, WNC Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, to try to establish a positive way forward for this much loved and long standing part of the community in Brackley.

It is my view that the site should continue to offer community facilities for young people and that new youth facilities alongside a SEND provision to meet the significant demand in West Northants would be a good use of the site. I will continue to work with the Council and other stakeholders to try to make sure that this site will be of future benefit to Brackley.