Cabinet decides on proposal to create an all-through school in St Martins
Shropshire Council’s Cabinet today (Wednesday 28 September 2011) agreed to proceed to create an all-through school in St Martins.
In line with the recommendation, Cabinet decided to extend the age range of Rhyn Park School and Performing Arts College, and close Ifton Heath Primary School, offering pupils a place at the extended school.
Cabinet considered statutory representations made during the most recent round of consultation, which took place from 5 August 2011 to 16 September 2011, before making the final decision.
Cabinet had previously agreed to defer the six-week statutory consultation to allow for a further study to look at the site and design to take place, and for the collection of more information on the educational and organisational benefits of all-through schools.
The statutory consultation period of representations followed consultation which has taken place on an unprecedented scale to look at the future of education in the county. This began with the development of a new education vision and school organisation policy as recommended by an Independent Policy Commission, chaired by Neil Kinghan.
This extensive process led to Cabinet recently taking a number of difficult decisions on school organisation in Shropshire. Cabinet has previously agreed to close four primary schools and one secondary school. Cabinet has also decided to extend the age range of one infant school and not to proceed with proposals to close three schools which have brought forward alternative proposals.
Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Cabinet member for schools, said:
“We appreciate that this is an unsettling time for pupils, parents, staff and the wider schools community affected by this proposal – and that it has been difficult for everyone affected by recent decisions on the future of education in Shropshire.
“As with all previous decisions, this has not been taken without thorough and careful consideration of all the issues and options – consultation has taken place on an extensive scale. We have worked alongside schools and their communities for more than a year to look at the challenges facing our schools and how these can be addressed.
“From the start, we have encouraged and supported schools, parents, governors, pupils, the diocese, town and parish councils and wider communities to bring forward their own solutions. This has continued throughout the process with people being urged to come up with viable, sustainable long term alternatives to the proposals, which still ensure we can provide excellent education for all our children. Where this has happened we have listened as has been shown in giving schools affected by proposals to close, the opportunity to proceed with federation arrangements.
“Further work in reaching a solution for St Martins has included councillors, officers, teachers and governors visiting a number of all-through and co-located schools to observe the potential advantages and disadvantages. We have seen that the benefits include increasing continuity for pupils, improving teaching and learning, the quality of education and pupils’ progress through strengthening links across the primary and secondary stages, and the better use of resources.
“We will continue to work closely with everyone involved, including developing the detailed design of the all-through school. We will support the schools, parents, pupils and the wider community in ensuring there is as little disruption as possible in making the transition to the extended school.”
Ifton Heath Primary School will close in August 2012, with the extended school, which is proposed to include a nursery class, opening in September 2012.
For further information and Cabinet reports please visit the website shropshire.gov.uk/educationforshropshire
Further details on previous decisions
Cabinet agreed in July 2011 to close Barrow, Hopton Wafers and Maesbury primary schools and extend the age range of Buntingsdale Infant School. It was also agreed to create a single primary school in Shawbury and further work is taking place with Shawbury Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School to decide on the site of the consolidated school.
At the same meeting in July 2011, Cabinet decided not to close Stiperstones Primary School, as proposed at an earlier stage, but to give the school the opportunity to progress a proposal to federate with Chirbury Primary School. Cabinet also agreed not to proceed to statutory consultation on proposals to close Onny and Lydbury North primary schools but to give them the opportunity to develop their proposal for federation.
Cabinet, in September 2011, agreed to close Wakeman School and Arts College in Shrewsbury.
Barrow, Hopton Wafers, Maesbury and Shawbury primary schools will close in August 2012 and Wakeman School and Arts College in Shrewsbury will close in August 2013.
