The Property Sub-Committee of Staffordshire Council met on Wednesday 15 July 2026 and approved recommendations for proposed leases to academies. The meeting also discussed the details of the lease for Thomas Russell Junior School, clarifying its site boundaries.

Proposed Leases to Academies

The committee approved recommendations for the grant of 125-year leases for school sites to academies. This is a standard procedure when schools convert to academy status, as expected by the Department for Education. The leases are granted at a peppercorn rent and are not for value.

A key discussion point was the lease for Thomas Russell Junior School in Barton under Needwood. Councillor Peter Mason raised a query regarding the school having two sites, one on Efflinch Lane and another on Station Road. Initially, council records indicated only one site. However, through discussion, it was clarified that while the school has a single headteacher and governing body, it operates across two distinct sites. The report and subsequent decision pertained specifically to the Efflinch Lane site. Councillor Janet Higgins provided further detail, describing the Station Road site as the infant school and the Efflinch Lane site as the junior school, noting the latter's proximity to a fishing pond and its use for facilities like the aquedome.

Councillor Hayley Coles also raised a point about potential expansion queries from residents and parents, drawing a parallel to a similar situation in Tamworth. The committee acknowledged the need for clarity on site boundaries and usage. Following these clarifications, the committee was happy to approve the proposed lease for Thomas Russell Junior School, along with those for St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School in Tamworth and Cooper Perry Primary School in Stafford.

The meeting also noted that the local member for Thomas Russell Junior School, Councillor Catherine Brown, had confirmed no comments and supported the recommendations.

The committee then moved to exclude the public from the meeting to discuss items involving the likely disclosure of exempt information.