West Sussex County Council: Future of Rother Valley Primary Schools Unveiled

Date: May 22, 2008

Press Release Number: PR2197

Press Release

West Sussex County Council has unveiled its plans for primary schools in the Rother Valley following a second period of consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Pat Arculus, has said she will be changing the age at which children transfer to secondary school from 10 to 11 in line with the National Curriculum and will also be moving to a ‘two-tier’ education system.

Pat says she believes there is now a ‘clear direction’ for the future planning of Primary Schools in the Rother Valley and has also announced an investment of £2.5 million in school buildings in the area.

Pat has also decided against the closure of Rogate CE Primary School and has instead said it should become a 4-11 school.

Pat said: “The County Council has a strong desire to retain village schools wherever possible. There is a real hope that the new school system will attract and retain more pupils. The governing body of Rogate CE Primary School has set out ambitious forecasts for pupil numbers and an intention to galvanise community support. I have asked officers to work with the governing body and to report on its progress after a three-year period.”

The decision also reveals that three of the four proposed primary school amalgamations will not be immediately taken forward. Instead these existing schools will gain a Year 6 class to become ‘all-through’ primary schools.

Pat said: “Having listened very carefully to the views of the community I have decided that, rather than impose these changes, the County Council should work with governing bodies to gradually develop new models of leadership.

“I have asked officers and schools to continue to work on innovative, sustainable solutions to schooling across the area, such as formal collaborations, federations and potentially amalgamations, which could retain schooling in local communities with shared leadership and governance.”

“However, I am still keen that we work with the governing body of Duncton and Graffham schools and the Schools Forum to trial a new model of funding that builds on their already successful federation.”

The County Council received a high level of response to its second consultation on the future of schools in the area – over 1500 individual responses from parents, staff, governors and members of the public, as well as responses from governing bodies and other organisations.

This consultation revealed a high level of support for changing the Age of Transfer to secondary school. This builds on the autumn consultation when over 75% of respondents supported this change.

Pat has also proposed that Northchapel School become a 4-11 school, as there is clear evidence that there are sufficient children within the catchment area and that the community recognises that the County Council will be unlikely to be able to replace the SCOLA-type buildings in the medium term.

Pat has also announced that the changes should be introduced for September 2009 rather than the date originally planned (September 2010).

The next stage of the process will be the publication of statutory notices. This is in effect a further statutory six-week period of consultation during which anyone can make a formal objection.

A decision on the proposal for an Academy in the Rother Valley is expected to be announced early in June.