Purpose

Pupil projections for the
Worthing and Durrington locality of schools show there is a
significant surplus provision of places at primary schools in the
borough. The local authority was asked by schools to lead a review
across the locality due to declining pupil numbers and some
uncertainty among schools on how this would impact them in the
future.  As a result, a public
consultation was held to seek views on proposals to reduce these
surplus places (decision
LS08 (22/23) refers).
 
A review of the feedback from
the public consultation indicated support was evident for
proceeding with a number of the solutions to reduce the surplus
places.  Therefore the Cabinet Member
for Learning and Skills approved progression of these proposals,
using procedures in accordance with
Department for Education guidance where appropriate, (decision

LS14(22/23) refers).
 
As part of the decision,
approval was given for the publication of formal statutory
proposals for the closure of Lyndhurst Infant School and the
significant change in character of Chesswood Junior School to allow
the opening of an all-through primary school at the current
Chesswood Junior School site.  The
proposals were published for a period of 4 weeks and provided the
opportunity for the public to submit new comments regarding the
suggested changes; a summary of the representation received is set
out in section 4 of the report. Following analysis of the
representation, which indicated no new comment or issue was raised,
approval is now sought to implement the proposals as
published.

Decision

The Assistant Director (Education and Skills)
has: 
 

(1)Approved the
amalgamation of Lyndhurst Infant and Chesswood Junior Schools onto one site to create a
new all-through primary school for 60 Published Admission Number
(PAN) Key Stage 1 pupils and 120 PAN Key Stage 2 pupils, together
with a 21 place Special Support Centre with effect from 1 September
2024. 
 

(2)Agreed to
discontinue the use of Lyndhurst Infant School with effect from 31
August 2024.