The way forward for primary schools in north Carlisle has been approved by Cumbria County Council's Cabinet today (Tuesday 9 October).
After extensive public consultation on five options, the Cabinet has today agreed the following:
-the formal closure of Belah school with effect from 31 August 2008
- transferring Belah pupils to Kingmoor infant and junior schools from September 2008
- splitting Belah school's catchment area between the Kingmoor schools and Stanwix school
- extending the age range of Kingmoor School from 3-7 years to 4-7 years
- keeping Kingmoor infant and junior schools as separate entities for the time being
Under this process, the admission numbers for the Kingmoor and Stanwix schools will remain the same.
The proposed changes to primary education in the north of the city form part of the council's countywide review of schools that began in 2005.
Now that Cabinet has agreed a way forward, work will begin on a number of fronts over several months, to carry out the changes. These include:
- publishing formal proposals to close Belah school. The county council will publish two proposals as soon as possible. There will the be a six week 'representation' period and then the county council has to make a decision within two months on whether or not to go ahead with the proposals. The final decision will probably be made at December's Cabinet meeting.
- setting up a transition group. In every area where the school review results in changes, a local group is set up to plan and oversee local arrangements. Like other groups elsewhere in the county, the north Carlisle group will be made up of council officers and representatives from the schools affected.
- developing the Kingmoor site. There will be a need to arrange temporary accommodation for a while to deal with the increased number of pupils at the Kingmoor schools.
Speaking at today's Cabinet Meeting, Councillor Oliver Pearson, on behalf of Councillor Jim Buchanan, said:
"The very reason behind the countywide review was to ensure that, for the future, Cumbria has the right number and right type of schools, and that they are the right size and in the right place.
"Always uppermost in our minds is providing the best possible education for young people currently in our schools and for those who follow them.
"Such an aim means that sometimes difficult decisions have to be made over what are often very emotional issues but we must hold on to our commitment and not lose sight of the reason we began the review in the first place."
End
Further information from Alison Lister, Media Team, (01228) 606335
Notes
Across the UK there is a trend of falling pupil numbers in primary and secondary schools. In Cumbria, at the current rate, a quarter of school places will become empty over the next 10 years
To deal with this issue, and to ensure the quality of education in Cumbria's schools, the county council launched a thorough review of all its schools in 2005.
The council set up a school organisation forum headed up by ex-headteacher Roger Alston with a membership of county councillors from all parties, district councillors employers' bodies, the church, MPs and teachers' associations
Each area of the county has its own Local Partnership Group (LPG), which comes up with recommendations on the way forward for schools in the groups area. These are then presented to the county council which either approves them, or returns to the school organisation forum for further discussion
Carlisle LPG initially looked at secondary education in the area, before moving on to the issue of primary education