Decision details

That the Executive Member for Children, Young People & Learning noted the outcomes of the formal consultation, both for and against the proposal and that hat the proposal to close College Town Junior School and extend the age range of College Town Infant & Nursery School is agreed.

1.            74% of respondees to the initial consultation supported an amalgamation. 71% of respondees to the subsequent formal consultation agreed with the proposal to close College Town Junior School and extend the age range of College Town Infant & Nursery School.

2.            It is recognised that there are continuing, strong opinions either against the principle or method of amalgamation.  These views were considered fully in coming to the recommendations.

3.            The proposal is to extend the age range by adding Years 3 to 6 to the Infants School, therefore creating a school with all primary phase years. The Council’s view is that a primary school would:

·           Enable better continuity of education and progression for all pupils and parents, in particular from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2.

·           Enable more stability for children and parents by avoiding the need for a change of school at a young age. Among those who would benefit would be children of parents in the armed forces.

·           Enhance the safeguarding needs of all pupils, for example by being aware of the needs of children of all ages in the same family.

·           Provide scope to achieve higher educational outcomes.

·           Provide opportunities to develop the curriculum and enhance the delivery of the National Curriculum.

·           Allow better use of educational resources, including both teaching and non-teaching staff.

·           Provide opportunities to increase the range, expertise and experience of teaching and support staff, provide opportunities and development for staff, and opportunities in the deployment of staff.

·           Allow improvement and greater flexibility in management and organisation, for example in specialist teaching.

·           Better enable the recruitment and retention of a headteacher to support the vision of a new combined primary school.

·           Provide greater opportunities for staff to work across a primary school which could promote the recruitment and retention of staff.

·           Provide future scope to achieve better value for money, for example by a rationalisation of some administrative and leadership posts in the school.

·           Provide a higher profile in the local community.

1.            Other amalgamation options were considered at earlier stages of the consultation, including to close the Infant School and extend the age range of the Junior School, and to close both schools and open a new primary school.

2.            Earlier stages of the consultation also considered not progressing with amalgamation proposals, meaning that both current schools continue as separate organisations.

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