To approve the publication of a statutory notice to close Hunderton Junior and Infants Schools, and open a new three form entry Community School serving the 3-11 age range.

THAT

(a)        the statutory notice be issued; and

(b)       the funding for the capital cost be sought from the DfES from the Targetted Capital Fund, and in the event of failure from the Children's Services Capital Programme.

The merger of the two schools is proposed to improve primary school provision in one of the most deprived wards of the county.

Option 1.  The opportunity to merge the schools could be ignored.  Given the level of deprivation in the area it serves and the priority to maximise the life chances of children in that area, this would represent a loss of opportunity to improve provision.

Option 2.  Merger could be pursued without the new building.  This would create a primary school that would be difficult to manage as an entity, and continue to require significant maintenance investment.  It is likely that both Governing Bodies would reconsider their support that they have so far offered to the merger proposal.