PARENTS have a last chance today (Thursday, December 19) to air their views on whether an 'inadequate' Bromsgrove special school should ever re-open its rundown boarding facilities.

Accommodation was suspended at Hunters Hill College, in Spirehouse Lane, Blackwell, after safeguarding complaints were made during the summer.

Standards could plummet further at the school if it continues to operate its boarding facilities, the council has warned.

Birmingham City Council, which maintains the school, has asked parents for their views as to whether it should ever re-open.

The consultation about the future of boarding provision has run for almost a month and will close at midnight tonight (Thursday).

The authority stated that Hunters Hill has not actually admitted boarding pupils for several years and that the residential unit has instead been used for ‘short breaks’ and ‘respite’.

However, the council describes the buildings as ‘beyond economical repair and no-longer fit for their original purpose,’ adding that continuing boarding provision could pile pressure on to other areas of the school.

A consultation document states: “Birmingham City Council, as the local authority, is consulting with stakeholders on a proposal to remove the boarding provision with effect from 1st April 2020.

“The school has not admitted any boarding pupils for many years; for schools with boarding provision, operating with a large number of unfilled  boarding places, there can be a risk that they become financially unviable.

“If a school has a financial deficit, this can impact on staffing, standards and attainment; and, ultimately, the future of the school.”

The council is investigating the complaints made during the summer.

Hunters Hill’s boarding school accommodates boys aged between 11 and 16, many of whom have been diagnosed with social emotional mental health, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, an autism spectrum disorder and Asperger syndrome.

Ofsted has recently placed it into special measures, rating both the main school and its separate residential facility for up to 32 boys as ‘inadequate’.

The watchdog stated that the boarding provision breached 20 national minimum standards.

One of the criticisms centred around ‘inappropriate language’ such as the behaviour management policy which said naughty children would be ‘hung, drawn and quartered’, Ofsted revealed.

The government has also issued an academy order for the school.

People can submit views by completing an online survey at www.birminghambeheard.org.uk or emailing edsi.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk including ‘Hunters Hill’ in the subject field.