We are pleased to announce that West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services has agreed to move to the next stage of Planning Littlehampton Primary Schools for the Future following the public consultation process earlier this term.
The consultation showed a high level of support for the proposed changes – with over 80% of written responses giving support.
The next stage of the process is that there will be a further six week consultation in September following the publication of “statutory notices”, outlining the proposed changes for September 2011. The proposed changes are to: -
- Amalgamate Arun Vale Infant School, Elm Grove Infant School and Connaught Junior School to form one new Primary School with nursery provision on the existing Arun Vale/Connaught or Elm Grove sites.
- Amalgamate Wickbourne Infant School and Flora McDonald Junior School to form a new Primary School on the existing shared site.
- Expand Lyminster Infant School, which currently caters for 4-7 year olds, into a 4-11 Primary School.
We expect the final decision in November 2008. The proposed changes are in response to research evidence that shows that children make better progress if they have fewer changes of school. The change will also help us address the need to resolve surplus places following a significant fall in the number of children living in the locality, a trend that is being seen nationally, and give us the opportunity to invest in new primary school facilities for our children, using £10 million that has been earmarked in the County Council’s capital programme for Littlehampton Primary Schools.
There is still a long way to go in planning for September 2011 and we intend to work closely with headteachers, governing bodies, school staff and our partner organisations in planning any changes. We also wish to find ways not only to update you but to consult you as parents and carers and your children on what should be an exciting period for primary education in the town.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you who contacted us in the recent consultation, whether directly at our meetings or in correspondence, or indirectly through discussion with governors and headteachers. Your views have been and will continue to be important to us.
Colin James
Head of Capital.