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.

The Assistant Director, Planning, Performance and Development and the Head of Access and Capital Commissioning jointly presented the 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.

The proposal for amalgamation has the support of the governing bodies of both schools and wider consultees and further consultation with stakeholders supported the view that Herefordshire Council should ask the Secretary of State for an exemption from competition to enable the new school to be run as a local authority Community School.  An alternative considered in the consultation process was for a formal closure of one school and extending the age range of the other; however the favoured option was to open a brand new school. 

The Government presumes that all new schools should be subject to the competition process; however it is indicated that an exception to competition would be given if the new school was created by a straightforward amalgamation, the approval of the  Secretary of State would be sought on this; this view was additionally supported by the fact that the standard of current schools were judged as good by OFSTED and that there was already a good diversity of schools in the Leominster schools’ cluster.

In discussion Cabinet

·         Welcomed the proposal for a new primary school in Leominster and that this would be the last of the county’s primary age schools to be split.

·         Recognised that Leominster was a growing town and that it was important to build in capacity into the new school; the Local Development Framework would additionally take account of this issue.

·         Acknowledged the local member briefings held on this matter.

RESOLVED 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.