THE POSSIBLE merger of two Evesham schools is to be decided by council chiefs next week.
As reported earlier this year in the Observer, proposals are in place for Evesham High School and Simon De Montfort Middle School to convert into one school later this year.
And council bosses at Worcestershire County Council will formally make the final decision on the plans when the authority’s cabinet committee hold a meeting on Monday (June 9).
Should the plans get the go-ahead it would see both schools, which first formed a federation partnership five years ago, combine together under a new name.
Both of the school’s existing sites would still be used under the plans but the Department for Education registration for Simon De Montfort Middle School would close and the registration of Evesham High School changed to cover pupils from Year 6 to Year 13.
Current staff at both schools will not be affected by any changes, nor will the schools admission criteria or catchment areas.
Speaking about the proposals when announced in March, headteacher for both schools Caroline Browne said: “We feel strongly that this will allow the work we do to go from strength to strength and be to the continued advantage of the children who attend at Middle and High school phase.
“Our local parents have been very pleased with the richness of opportunity that two schools working as one allows. In school we know that staff have capitalised on the federation to extend learning and to raise levels of achievement.
“We know that we have been more successful in attracting quality applicants to our Y6 – Y13 provision. The merger would allow us to secure these advantages for the future of the Evesham community.
“We will protect the small school feeling – at Middle and High and 6th Form within a larger institution that takes advantage of economies of scale.
“We remain committed to working closely with our other partner schools.”
