Purpose

Littlehaven Infant
School and Northolmes Junior School
federated in September 2014 to become part of the Greenfields
Federation and are located less than a kilometre apart to the East
of Horsham. The schools share a Governing Body, Headteacher and two
Assistant Headteachers.  It is proposed
that the two schools are amalgamated to create an all-through
primary school on the Northolmes Junior
site with effect from September 2025. 
Northolmes Junior School would increase
its age range from age 7 – 11, Year 3 – Year 6 (Y3-Y6),
to become an age 4 – 11, Reception Year – Year 6 (YR
– Y6) all through primary school and Littlehaven Infant School would close from
September 2025.
 
On 22 February 2024, a four week informal
public consultation was launched, in accordance with
Department for Education (DfE) guidance for making prescribed
alterations to maintained schools to seek views on the proposed
changes.  Details of the consultation
process and the feedback received are set out in section 4 of this
report. 
 
The DfE guidance sets out the stages of the
process that should be undertaken when considering an
amalgamation.  Having completed the
first stage of the initial consultation, the Cabinet Member is now
asked to consider the feedback received and approve the progression
of the proposal to the next stage of the process –
publication of statutory notices.  This
is proposed for November/December 2024 to ensure the publication is
in term time and not school holidays. Whilst estimated costs for
adaptation of the buildings have been sought there can be no
commitment to any investment of capital until a full business case
has been prepared. The proposed consultation will run in parallel
to the preparation of that case.
 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young
People, Learning and Skills has approved:
 

(1)The publication of
formal statutory proposals for Northolmes Junior School to increase
its age range from age 7 – 11 (Y3 – Y6) to become an
age 4 – 11 (YR – Y6) all through primary school and for
Littlehaven Infant School to close from September 2025.
 

(2)The delegation of
authority to the Assistant Director (Education and Skills) to
determine whether the proposals set out in recommendation (1)
should be implemented as planned (subject to any capital investment
decision) following consideration of any representations received
during the statutory notice period.