Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/156

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: (01865) 816445

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA6).

The proposal was initially to alter the lower age range of 3 Oxfordshire primary schools: Five Acres Primary School, John Hampden Primary School and West Kidlington Primary School.  The Governing Body of West Kidlington Primary School decided to withdraw from the proposal to give thought to potential other options.

The alteration to the age range for both Five Acres Primary School and John Hampden Primary School would enable both to admit 3 year olds onto the school roll, thus creating Nursery classes. In both cases, the Governing Body and the Headteacher already run associated maintained Nursery Schools, and these would effectively be "taken over" by the schools and technically closed as separate establishments.

This change would be administrative in nature only and it is unlikely that parents, children or staff would notice any difference in practical terms. The proposal aims to enable the schools to become more efficient, managing a single budget rather than two separate budgets for Nursery and Primary schools, where there is now no advantage in doing so.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)        approve the publication of linked statutory notices for closure of Five Acres Nursery School and for the extension of age range at Five Acres Primary School to 3-11; and

(b)        approve the publication of linked statutory notices for closure of John Hampden Nursery School and for the extension of age range at John Hampden Primary School to 3-11.