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Medway Primary Strategy for Change

The government's Primary Capital Programme (PCP) is a national programme of investment to transform primary schools provision over a 14-year period.

In response, Medway Council, as the Local Authority, has issued its Primary Strategy for Change (pdf 2,174KB), a strategic approach to maximising this investment, securing value for money and supporting the Every Child Matters policy agenda.

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Parents, teachers and residents are being asked to take part in a public consultation on proposals for a major reorganisation aimed at improving and investing in primary school education in Medway.

Closures

The council's cabinet consulted the people of Medway on the closure of:

  • St Peter’s Infant School and the relocation of the existing pupils to neighbouring schools in August 2010;
  • Ridge Meadow Primary School in August 2010 and the relocation of the existing pupils to neighbouring schools, principally Oaklands and Wayfield;
  • St John’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled (CE (VC)) Infant School in August 2010 and the relocation of existing pupils to neighbouring schools.

The consultation on all three proposals ran from 10 June 2009 to 23 July 2009 inclusive and public consultation meetings were arranged as follows:

  • Ridge Meadow Primary School - 17 June 2009
  • St John’s CE (VC) Infant School - 7 July 2009
  • St Peter’s Infant School - 13 July 2009

At the Cabinet meeting on 17 September, members agreed to proceed with the closure of Ridge Meadow and St John's but to keep St Peter's open.

At a further meeting on 15 December 2009, Cabinet confirmed the closure of Ridge Meadow but instructed officers to:

  • reconsider the ratio of denominational places, taking into account to the Cabinet decision on the amalgamation of St. Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School and All Faiths Children's Community School (below) and
  • publish a new notice for St John's taking this into account.

Amalgamations

In addition the cabinet made the following decisions on the amalgamation of these schools:

Schools Consultation documents and public notices Cabinet decision, 15 December 2009
All Faiths Children’s Community School and St Nicholas' CE (VC) Consultation document (pdf 548KB) The Cabinet agreed not to proceed with the amalgamation because of the current standards at both schools - St Nicholas' consistently achieves results higher than the national average and All Faiths has made notable improvements over several years. Prospects for maintaining and improving the results are strong and there is a distinct ethos at each school.
Barnsole Infant and Barnsole Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 17KB)

Full proposal (pdf 103KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 2,548KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 548KB)

Appendix D - Director of Children and Adult Services' letter (pdf 398KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Barnsole Junior School from 31 August 2013 and the making of prescribed alterations (the expansion of the school and a change in the upper age limit) to Barnsole Infants School from 1 September 2013, to create an all-through primary school.

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Children and Adults, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Children's Services, to determine whether to approve the closure and new school proposals at the end of the statutory consultation period, if no objections are received, otherwise to bring a report back to Cabinet to determine the closure proposal and the alteration proposals.

The Cabinet also agreed, subject to the outcome of the above decisions and once initial feasibility work has been completed, to give consideration to the possibility of bringing forward building work for completion before amalgamation. The outcome of the feasibility study into the building project will be presented to the Children and Adult Services Overview and Scrutiny committee for consideration and comment.

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children's Services, to take the necessary action (including any required consultation) to reduce the Planned Admission Number (PAN) for the new school to 60 as soon as possible.

Delce Infant and Delce Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 27KB)

Full proposal (pdf 121KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 2,864KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 545KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Delce Infant School and Delce Junior School from 31 August 2012 and to create a new all-through Primary School from 1 September 2012 and noted the requirement for the council to pass the proposal to the Schools Adjudicator for decision at the end of the representation period.

This will reduce the number of transition points for children throughout their education on the same site. The two schools have been working closely for a number of years, already share the same site and a larger senior management team will create a more robust school.

Lordswood Infant and Lordswood Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 17KB)

Full proposal (pdf 103KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 2,631KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 550KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Lordswood Junior School from 31 August 2010 and to make prescribed alterations to Lordswood Infant School to create an all-through primary school from 1 September 2010.

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Children and Adults, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Children's Services, to determine whether to approve the closure and prescribed alteration proposals at the end of the statutory consultation period, if no objections are received, otherwise to bring a report back to Cabinet to determine the closure and prescribed alteration proposals.

Luton Infant and Luton Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 28KB)

Full proposal (pdf 121KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 1,502KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 545KB)

Appendix D Director of Children and Adults Services' letter (pdf 392KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Luton Infant School and Luton Junior School from 31 August 2014 and to create a new all-through primary school from 1 September 2014 and noted the requirement for the Council to pass the proposal to the Schools Adjudicator for decision at the end of the representation period.
Oaklands Infant and Oaklands Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 17KB)

Full proposal (pdf 105KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 3,078KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 545KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Oaklands Infant School on 31 August 2012 and to make prescribed alterations to Oaklands Junior School to create an all-through primary school, from 1 September 2012.

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Children and Adults, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Children's Services, to determine whether to approve the closure and prescribed alteration proposals at the end of the statutory consultation period, if no objections are received, otherwise to bring a report back to Cabinet to determine the closure and prescribed alteration proposals.

The Cabinet agreed, subject to the outcome of the above decisions, to instruct officers to consider the possibility of commencing of building work as soon as possible to ensure completion in advance of the proposed amalgamation.

Thames View Infant and Thames View Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 17KB)

Full proposal (pdf 103KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 2,464KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 545KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Thames View Junior School from 31 March 2012 and to make prescribed alterations to Thames View Infant School to create an all-through primary school, from 1 April 2012.

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Children and Adults, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Children's Services, to determine whether to approve the closure and prescribed alteration proposals at the end of the statutory consultation period, if no objections are received, otherwise to bring a report back to Cabinet to determine the closure and prescribed alteration proposals.

Twydall Infant and Twydall Junior Schools

Public notice (pdf 28KB)

Full proposal (pdf 122KB)

Appendix A list of consultees (pdf 46KB)

Appendix B Cabinet report (pdf 1,483KB)

Appendix C consultation document (pdf 545KB)

The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children and Adults to publish formal proposals, including statutory notices, relating to the closure of Twydall Infant School and Twydall Junior School from 31 August 2011 and to create an new all-through primary school, from 1 September 2011 and noted the requirement for the council to pass the proposal to the Schools Adjudicator for decision at the end of the representation period.

The Cabinet also authorised the Director of Children and Adults, if the proposals are approved by the Schools Adjudicator, to put in place a temporary governing body at the earliest opportunity and to investigate the possibility of aligning additional special educational needs (SEN) provision, stated in the forthcoming SEN Strategy, such as cochlear implants and providing it at the new school.

The agreed amalgamations effectively mean that the council, as the Local Authority, plans to close these schools to establish a single new school in each case. The consultation for the first phase of the above proposals ran from 10 June 2009 to 8 July 2009 inclusive.

The second consultation period ended on 6 November 2009.

 

For more information contact Planning and Review by telephone: 01634 306000 or by email: prim.reorg@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Planning and Review, Freepost RRUY-XYXR-SGYY, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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