Issue - meetings

Report ED13074

Following consideration of the Primary School Development Plan Review by the Education PDS Committee on 6^th November 2012, the Portfolio Holder for Education authorised the Director of Education and Care Services to undertake consultation with schools and other key agencies on a number of changes to primary schools, one of which one was the potential to alter the age range at Worsley Bridge Community Junior School in order to create an all-through primary school, with the potential for the school to expand to 3 forms of entry in future if appropriate.

A consultation for the proposed changes to school organisation had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 23 responses which were largely supportive of the proposals.  The Governing Body and School Council also supported the proposed changes to school organisation.  In consideration of this, the Portfolio Holder for Education had resolved to proceed with formal statutory proposals to implement this change, with Worsley Bridge Community Junior School becoming an all-through primary school from September 2014. 

Subsequently it became necessary to identify additional Reception class places in the area for the academic year 2013/14 to ensure that all on-time applicants received a valid offer. In consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Education it was agreed to open two Reception classes (providing 60 additional places) at Worsley Bridge Community Junior School in September 2013, bringing forward the date on which Worsley Bridge Community Primary School became an all-through primary school to September 2013.

On 12^th June 2013 a statutory notice was published in the News Shopper, setting out the proposal to change the age range from 7-11 years to 4-11 years from 1^st September 2013. This was displayed as required on the school gates, in local libraries and circulated to all interested parties, as well as published on the Bromley Council website, for a six week period ending 24^th July 2013.  No objections to the proposals had been received, with one comment in support of the change in age range submitted via the website.

In response to a question from a Member, the Chairman confirmed that the proposed expansion of age range at both Worsley Bridge Community Junior and Bromley Road Community Infant Schools would not create any additional pupil places at this time, but noted that the reorganisation of the two schools could support a future expansion in the number of primary places in this area if appropriate and would resolve issues created by having linked Infant and Junior schools located on different sites.

RESOLVED that the proposal to expand the age range at Worsley Bridge Community Junior School from 7-11 years to 4-11 years with effect from 1^st September 2013, as set out in the statutory notice, be approved, and that the school be known as Worsley Bridge Community Primary School.