A consultation on a proposal to establish a new primary school at Whitechapel Road, Cleckheaton

• Next steps and indicative timescale
• Consultation event
• Download full consultation document (PDF 137KB)
• Message from Councillors Harris and Smith

The proposal

A word from the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education

"The Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education welcomes and supports the collaborative way in which the proposals have been developed between Kirklees Council and both of the schools. We look forward to continuing this relationship in order to build upon the strengths of both Moorend CE(C) First and St. Luke's CE(VC) First Schools in order to secure the very best provision for pupils in Cleckheaton for the future."

What would this mean?

There are two possible ways to establish a new primary school for 420 pupils aged 5 - 11:

• Route 1 - Establish a new primary school by running a competition OR
• Route 2 - Apply for "exemption" from a competition to establish a new Church of England primary school.

In both cases we would have to legally "close" both schools and immediately open the new school.

Establishing a new primary school at Whitechapel Road in Cleckheaton - running a competition

The government requires all new and replacement schools to be established through a competition. This is to encourage a wide range of new and existing providers to bring new energy, ideas and skills to a more diverse pattern of schools, with distinctive character and ethos, promoting excellence and choice.

However, the government is likely to grant an 'exemption' from a competition when the existing schools are church schools and the proposed new school is a church school. As this is the case here, it is very likely that an exemption from competition will be granted.

Support for staff

Retaining our skilled teaching and support staff to maintain high standards of teaching and learning is fundamental to our plans. We have been working with staff groups and trade unions to develop a HR framework to support staff transitions that will ensure processes are fair and support individuals in terms of their career ambitions and personal aspirations.

Governors

If two or more schools are proposed to become an 'all-through' primary, the existing schools are closed and a new school is opened. A temporary governing body is to be set up in advance of the opening date in order to prepare for the new school. The temporary governing body would be made up from members of the governing bodies of each of the existing schools. The temporary governing body would be responsible for working on the staffing structure and would be preparing for a smooth transition to ensure that the new school makes a good start.

Transition arrangements

How would the proposed changes affect my child currently at Moorend CE(C) First School?

The chart below shows how the changes would affect pupils each year as they progress through school.

Find the current year group for your child and follow the row across from September 2010.

• Current Year 4 pupils will transfer to Middle School in September. They will progress through Years 5 and 6 at Middle School. The Middle Schools are planned to close in July 2012 and the pupils will then transfer to Year 7 at Whitcliffe Mount - SBEC (parents are entitled to express a preference for other secondary schools).
• Pupils in Year 3 and below will remain at primary school until the end of Year 6 and then transfer to Year 7 at Whitcliffe Mount - SBEC (or another secondary school).
• It is proposed that Moorend CE(C) First School and St. Luke's CE(C) First School come together to make a new all through Primary School from September 2011. Current Moorend pupils would remain in the Moorend School building until the new building on Whitechapel Road is ready in September 2014.
• The current Published Admission Number (PAN) of 30 and the existing Priority Admission Area (PAA) for the Moorend building will not change until the school moves to the Whitechapel Road building in September 2014. A new PAN of 60 and a revised PAA will then apply to admission into Reception from 2014 onwards.

How would the proposed changes affect my child currently at St. Luke's CE(VC) First School

The chart below shows how the changes would affect pupils each year as they progress through school.

Find the current year group for your child and follow the row across from September 2010

• Current Year 4 pupils will transfer to Middle School in September. They will progress through years 5 and 6 at Middle School. The Middle Schools are planned to close in July 2012 and the pupils will then transfer to Year 7 at Whitcliffe Mount - SBEC (parents are entitled to express a preference for other secondary schools).
• Pupils in Year 3 and below will remain at primary school until the end of Year 6 and then transfer to Year 7 at Whitcliffe Mount - SBEC (or another secondary school).
• It is proposed that Moorend CE(C) First School and St. Luke's CE(C) First School come together to make a new all through Primary School from September 2011. Current St. Luke's pupils would remain in the St. Luke's CE(C) School building until the new building on Whitechapel Road is ready in September 2014.
• The current Published Admission Number (PAN) of 18 and the existing Priority Admission Area (PAA) for the St. Luke's building will not change until the school moves to the Whitechapel Road building in September 2014. A new PAN of 60 and a revised PAA will then apply to admission into Reception from 2014 onwards.