COUNTY chiefs will be asked to approve a public consultation on proposals to change age ranges at a number of schools in the Pershore area.
The current system in Pershore will be discussed in Cabinet on Thursday (September 23).
Schools in Pershore have asked for age ranges of the schools to be reviewed and changed to be coordinated for there to be a clear and consistent education pathway for children in this education planning area .
If approval is given at next week’s meeting, a public consultation will be launched on October 11 to engage and involve families, residents and other stakeholders on seeking their views about these proposals.
The results of the consultation would then be discussed at February’s Cabinet before a final decision is made for the Local Authority Maintained schools. The Regional Schools Commissioner and some Governing Bodies will also need to make final decisions in February.
Coun Marcus Hart, cabinet member for Education, said: “The County Council and WCF have been liaising with Pershore schools and Academy Trusts for some time now about the current school system in Pershore and their desire for a coordinated approach to change of age ranges that is clear and consistent for children and families.
“It’s great news that this proposal is coming to Cabinet, and I’d like to thank schools and our teams for their work in the analysis so far.”
Following a direct approach from schools in the Pershore area in Autumn 2020, there has been a technical analysis to evaluate the risks and issues relating to the current organisation of the schools in the planning area.
The education provision in Pershore has tended to follow a three-tier journey, where pupils attend first schools from age 4-9, transfer to middle schools at age 9-12 and then transfer to high school at age 12 to complete their education.
Over the last several years, agreements have been made by a variety of decision-making authorities for some schools in this area to convert to primary and secondary schools.
Those schools that have already completed the transition will make no further changes.
