Decision details

The consultation on the possible amalgamation of Holly Spring Infant and Junior Schools should proceed.

      i)        If an opportunity is presented to amalgamate Infant and Junior Schools then the Council seeks the views of all stakeholders with the intention of achieving this outcome.

     ii)        An example would be when the Headteacher of one of the schools leaves or retires, as is the situation at Holly Spring Junior School where Trisha Donkin retired at Easter 2018.

    iii)        Junior schools in the Borough are currently presenting challenges with their pupil outcomes and one way to generate and sustain improvement is through an amalgamation process as it creates a stronger, larger primary school. The Council promotes school amalgamations for these reasons.

   iv)        If the two schools amalgamate into a primary school there are opportunities for better educational outcomes for children through a consistent approach through the primary phase and other benefits.

    v)        The governing bodies of both schools have agreed to support a consultation on amalgamation.

      i)        The option of federation was investigated. Although in the short-term there would financial benefits in this approach, in the long term a primary school would be more robust.  Also if one of the schools in a federation received a poor inspection outcome then it would lead all of the federated schools vulnerable to the same judgement.

     ii)        Not to progress with amalgamation proposals, meaning that both current schools continue as separate organisations and the possible benefits are not realised.

None