Published: Monday, 6th October, 2008 07:55
Merger of schools a step closer
By Lauren Everitt
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PLANS to merge two schools have come a step closer after the proposals were backed by education bosses.
Royal Borough members discussed the plan to combine South Ascot Village Primary and Nursery School at a meeting this week.
The proposal, which is planned to come into effect on September 1, 2009, will be brought to the cabinet later this month before going to public consultation by the end of the year.
The schools currently share a site on All Souls’ Road, South Ascot, with youngsters in the nursery and reception classes taught in the nursery school buildings and older children taught in the primary school buildings.
Final touches: Makeover winner Theresa Mercer (middle) gets ready to go out on stage with Lisa Down (Zappas) and Sharon Connolly (Maximise Group).
Royal Borough children’s services leader Cllr Eileen Quick said: “There will be no change to the number of staff employed at the two schools as a result of this proposal, but the children will undoubtedly benefit from more focus on learning and teaching from a senior management team freed up from the administrative burdens of running two separate schools.
“This can only be good for the children as it will provide even more teaching expertise while ensuring continuity of learning - a very important element of early years education.”
The Royal Borough’s children’s services and leisure overview and scrutiny panel met to discuss the plans on Monday this week.
Both schools have recently benefited from a range of improvements to buildings including a new classroom, re-wiring of the entire school, new toilet blocks and a refurbished swimming pool.
The nursery school building has also been expanded to create a new foundation stage unit in which all foundation age children are taught until they move into year 1.
Amalgamation of the two schools will mean the system of budgets, admission arrangements, contracts and Ofsted inspection processes will be streamlined and managed by one team rather than two, giving other members of staff more time to carry out other duties.
A six-week public consultation will run from Monday, November 3, until Friday, December 12, following a report to cabinet on Thursday, October 23.
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