Referee called over school merger

Springhead Community Infant and Nursery School

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AN independent schools adjudication officer will look at plans to merge an infant and junior school, Oldham Council’s cabinet agreed last night.

The proposed amalgamation of Springhead Infant and Nursery School and Knowsley Junior School has led to disagreements about the details, the cabinet was told last night.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton said the retirement of a head teacher had produced a unique opportunity to merge the two schools, which most people accepted would bring benefits for children and staff.

However there were disagreements over how a merger would be carried out and concerns about the joint school remaining split on different sites.

She said the council hoped to get funding for an amalgamated site rather than split site but the cabinet backed a proposal to refer the issue to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator before any decisions are taken.

A cabinet report for the meeting stated: “It is widely acknowledged that transition points between schools have an adverse impact on children’s learning. A programme has been in place for a number of years to amalgamate separate infant and junior schools in Oldham in order to remove the associated transition points.

“Traditionally the amalgamations have followed the resignation or retirement of the head teacher of one of the schools.

“In February 2013 the governors of Knowsley Junior School informed the council that the head teacher had announced her retirement with effect from August 31, 2013.

“Consequently, council officers engaged the governors of both schools in pre-consultation discussions which focussed on the council’s aspiration to secure the best possible educational provision for the community. It was always our stated view that this would best be achieved by amalgamating the separate schools.

“Initially the council was considering the closure of Knowsley and the expansion of the age range of Springhead to avoid the establishment of a new school as an academy.

“It became clear that the governors of both schools agreed with the LA aspiration but particular concerns were expressed by each school separately.

“In the case of Springhead, the governors were in favour of a proposal which would close Knowsley Junior School and expand the age range of Springhead Infant & Nursery School, whereas the governors of Knowsley were in favour of a proposal which would close both schools and establish a new school in their place

“The two schools have a very different ethos; the LA view was that a proposal brought forward outside of competition would be the most effective way to amalgamate the schools.

“Both full governing bodies were invited to a joint meeting held at the Civic Centre in April, 2013, to discuss the LA proposal. They were asked to hold their own meetings consequent to the joint session and to provide written feedback to the LA at the informal stage.

“A full statutory consultation process began on June, 17, 2013.

“It became clear very early on in the six-week consultation period that responses to the consultation were strongly affected by the allegiance of parents, governors and members of staff to one or other school.

“The governors asked for their meetings to be held jointly, to which we agreed.

“Feelings were clearly running high with most representations being on the matter of the appointment of the head teacher and the reason for the LA decision to establish a new school rather than expand Springhead.

“The staff meetings were held separately and again, feelings were clearly running high.

“In all the responses, no-one has said that they disagree with the idea of an amalgamation in order to create a through primary school.

“The points being made are all in relation to how we would effect the change. We have delivered a consistent message that we believe the best way to deliver the amalgamated school is by closing the two predecessor schools and establishing a new school in their place.”