The public are being asked for their views on various options to revamp primary school education in North Carlisle.
Consultation begins today on five different options for four schools in the area of Carlisle north of the river Eden: Belah School, Kingmoor Junior School, Kingmoor Infant School and Stanwix School. The public consultation is part of a comprehensive countywide exercise to review all schools - nursey, primary, secondary and special schools - in the light of falling pupil numbers and changing educational needs.
Parents, members of staff, governors and any interested parties are all being encouraged to give their views during the consultation period, which runs from 4 June until 20 July 2007. A series of consultation meetings will be held at each of the four schools, as well as additional parents' meetings, drop-in sessions and community meetings.
Feedback from the consultation process will be analysed before a report is prepared for the County Council's Cabinet. Cabinet will consider the response to the consultation before forming a view on which is the most viable option - it is planned that this decision will take place at Cabinet meeting on 4 September 2007.
Cllr Philip Chappelhow, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said:
"A lot of work has been carried out to get us to where we are now. These five options represent a range of paths for the future of primary education in the north of the city - we now want to hear from as many people as possible which of these five options they think is the best way forward. It is widely recognised that there is an urgent need to address the difficulties being faced by Belah school. But we also need to address the issue that there are more school places available than there are pupils filling them."
Moira Swann, Corporate Director for Children's Services, said:
"The countywide review of schools is an opportunity to improve young people's education and their life chances and choices. It also deals with the problem of falling school numbers. Combined, the four primary schools in North Carlisle offer 400 more places than are needed. That's not fair on tax payers funding empty seats and it's not fair on pupils not getting the breadth of education they deserve. The solution we agree on now will build a firm foundation for the future."
Notes
Follow the link below to view an electronic version of the consultation document - the five options are detailed on p.11-12. Details of the consultation meetings can be found on p.21-22.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332
Follow this link to view the consultation document