To receive a report on statutory consultation undertaken for the amalgamation of Leominster Infant and Junior Schools from September 2012, as proposed in the Council’s Primary Strategy for Change.

THAT Cabinet:

                     (a)          Agrees to continue the statutory process for the amalgamation of Leominster Infant and Leominster Junior Schools to form a new primary school with 630 places for children aged 4 to 11 and 26 full time equivalent places for 3 year olds;

(b)                   Agrees to seek the approval of the Secretary of State to establish the new primary school as a Community (Local Authority run) school, and;

(c)           agrees to the publication of the required statutory notices, as necessary.

All three recommendations support the Council’s approved Primary Strategy for Change and reflect the positive response to the consultation undertaken on the proposed amalgamation of Leominster Infant and Junior Schools to create a new community primary school. 

(a)        Not pursue the statutory process for the amalgamation of Leominster Infant and Junior Schools.  However, amalgamation of these schools to form an all through primary school is part of the Council’s approved Primary Strategy for Change which identifies the amalgamation of these schools as the Council’s highest priority for capital investment.  If the schools are not amalgamated, the Council’s approved investment priorities will need to be reconsidered and revised.  The availability of the Government’s grant funding is time limited and it is probable that an alternative capital investment scheme could not be developed in time to meet the grant expenditure deadline.  There would therefore be a serious risk of losing the £7.8 million grant that has been prioritised to this scheme by the Council.

            (b)        The alternative to seeking the approval of the Secretary of State to establish the new primary school as a Community (Local Authority run) school is for the Local Authority to establish and run a competitive process open to other organisations that may be interested in running the new primary school.  There is a presumption by Government that all new schools should be subject to the competition process.  However, Ministers have also indicated a presumption that exception to competition will be given if the new school is to be created by a straightforward amalgamation of an infant and junior school.  The response to the consultation is firmly in favour of the Council seeking the approval of the Secretary of State to establish the new primary school as a Community school.    

1.                  The Council’s approved Primary Strategy for Change allocates £7.8 million from the Government grant funded Primary Capital Programme to deliver a new build primary school. 

Consultation has taken place.