27/04/04 - County Council agrees to support the proposal to amalgamate 2 schools in Keswick

Today, the County Council’s Cabinet decided to support the proposal to amalgamate St Kentigern’s CE Voluntary Aided Infant School and Trinity CE Voluntary Controlled Junior School in Keswick.  The decision to establish an all through primary school with effect from April 2005 has been taken in light of the responses received after an extensive consultation exercise was carried out in accordance with Cumbria’s School Organisation Plan.

Consultation meetings involved staff, governors, parents and public and were aimed at focusing on the best way to create the most effective provision for the future, enhance the educational opportunities for the pupils, and lead to a more cost-effective use of the resources made available for education.

County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says

“The governing bodies from both schools asked the County Council to look at the possibility of merging these two schools.  The County Council is committed to continuing the process of amalgamating infant and junior schools for educational reasons.  Cumbria, four out of five of our Primary Schools serve children from the start of school until they reach the age of eleven.  Continuity is very helpful for the development of young children.  The consultation meetings were well attended and there was strong support for amalgamation.  It is unusual to amalgamate in the middle of the academic year however we have decided to propose the amalgamation in April next year to reduce uncertainties for staff as soon as possible and to start the new school at the beginning of the financial year.”