Proposals for a new secondary school for north Huddersfield and a proposal affecting Fartown High School

• Next steps and expected timescale
• Consultation events
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A new secondary school for north Huddersfield

Map of Huddersfield showing:

• Primary admission area (PAA) for proposed new North Huddersfield High School (shaded green)
• Primary school PAAs in the North Huddersfield High School PAA
• Huddersfield high schools and their PAAs

View full size map of Huddersfield

There is an urgent need to provide a new secondary school for north Huddersfield. There are currently around 1,900 children aged between 11 and 16 living in this area and this number is expected to grow to some 2,400 by 2020. A school in this part of Huddersfield is an obvious requirement to meet the needs of its growing population and provide young people with the skills and knowledge to give them the best life chances in the 21st century.

As part of the Building Schools for the Future programme, there is a once in a generation opportunity to build a brand new school and to refurbish All Saints Catholic College. This would provide greater prospects for improving educational attainment for all young people across the area and would offer an exciting range of approaches and modern facilities to meet their varying needs and aspirations.

A secondary school of 1,200 places is proposed. A school of this size is large enough to deliver a wider range of academic and vocational subjects and courses to engage and motivate all children and young people to achieve their best, and to better focus resources on learning and teaching.

It is proposed that the new school is built on the Fell Greave site which is next to All Saints Catholic College. Several possible sites in the area have been examined to assess their potential for providing the best possible location for the new school and, though there is another site, just north of Bradley Road, there are real advantages for two schools to be co-located on the same site.

Schools are increasingly working more closely together to provide a wider range of opportunities for young people and to promote high-quality learning. A partnership between the new secondary school, the Diocese of Leeds and All Saints Catholic College means that pupils at both schools would benefit from a modern learning environment as well as greater curriculum opportunities and shared sports facilities if this proposal were to proceed.

The proposal

Artist's impression of what a new school could look like. This is not the actual design, but it does give an indication of what might be possible on the co-located site at Fell Greave.

View full size artist's impression

It is proposed to establish a new secondary school on 1st September 2011 for 1,200 boys and girls aged 11-16 years. The new school would be located on a new site in north Huddersfield and would serve the areas of Birkby, Brackenhall, Bradley, Cowcliffe, Deighton, Fartown, Fixby, Hillhouse and Sheepridge. The new school would initially open in September 2011 on the current site of Fartown High School and move to the new location as soon as the new building is ready.

It is proposed that the planned admission number for the school would be 240 pupils per year.

This would mean:

• Running a competition to establish a new school on the Fell Greave site at Bradley; and
• Closing Fartown High School from 31st August 2011.

About competitions

A competition must be run for all new and replacement schools according to The Education and Inspections Act 2006.

This regulation aims to encourage a wide range of new and existing providers to bring fresh energy, ideas and skills to a more diverse pattern of schools, with distinctive character and ethos, promoting excellence and choice.

A competition is expected to last between 10 and 14 months and has six stages:

• Consultation
• Publication of first notice
• Publication of second notice
• Representations
• Decision
• Implementation

The proposed site

Site plan of All Saints Catholic College showing the extended site.

View full size aerial view

All available sites in the north Huddersfield area have been assessed to find out whether their size and location is appropriate for the proposed new school. Discussions between Kirklees Council and the Diocese of Leeds about the proposal have led to an agreement in principle to build the new school on a site next to All Saints Catholic College using land in council ownership.

It is planned to design better foot and vehicle access to the area, including improving the circulation of traffic on Bradley Road, by increasing access points to the site.

Who could attend the new north Huddersfield secondary school

Priority would be given to pupils who live in the priority admission areas (PAAs) currently served by the following primary schools:

• Ashbrow Infant and Nursery School/Ashbrow Junior School
• Birkby Infant and Nursery School/ Birkby Junior School
• Bradley CE(VC) Infant and Nursery School/Bradley CE(VC) Junior School
• Christchurch Woodhouse CE(VA) Junior, Infant and Early Years School
• Fixby Junior and Infant School

Extended services and community use

As part of the plans to establish the new school the aim is to make the buildings and facilities available for use by people in the community in a way that complements, extends and enhances local services.

School specialism

The specialism of the new school is under consideration and views would be welcomed as part of this consultation. It is important to complement the existing balance of specialisms in neighbouring schools.

What would this mean for All Saints Catholic College?

Much needed investment in the buildings and site at All Saints Catholic College would be brought forward to give up to date facilities and specialist learning environments. There would also be exciting opportunities for All Saints Catholic College and the new school to work together to extend the range of curriculum provision and to develop shared sporting facilities.

What would this mean for Fartown High School?

The Government's expectation is that by 2011 all schools will be above the "floor target" of 30% of pupils gaining at least five A*-C GCSE's, including English and Mathematics. Any schools not achieving this will be closed and/or replaced by new provision. The current projected trend in standards at Fartown High School suggests that the school is unlikely to meet these Government expectations by 2011 and so we are therefore consulting about the closure of Fartown High School in relation to the proposed new school. The quality of provision at Fartown High School is currently being supported and strengthened by a close working relationship with Holmfirth High School.

A new school, with new leadership at Fell Greave, would mean a fresh start for existing and future students, the local community and for many school staff members. This is an exciting opportunity for everyone.

Support through changes

Maintaining stability and creating an improvement in the current standards of children's education will remain the backbone of any change.

All pupils at Fartown High School would be offered places at the new north Huddersfield secondary school.

Detailed plans would plot the paths for pupils, parents and staff to enable everybody to effectively cope with the proposed changes.

The following tables show how the changes may affect your child. The transition pathways do not affect the rights of parents and carers to apply for a place at other schools.

Support for staff

Retaining skilled teaching and support staff to maintain high standards of teaching and learning is fundamental to these plans. The council has been working with staff groups and trade unions to develop a "Human Resource" framework to support staff transitions. This will ensure that processes are fair and individuals are supported in terms of their career ambitions and personal aspirations.

What the proposed changes mean for your child

• Table A - Proposed timeline for the new 11-16 secondary school for north Huddersfield at Fell Greave and changes to Fartown High School
• Table B - How would the proposed changes affect my child currently attending Fartown High School?
• Table C - How would the proposed changes affect my child currently attending a primary school and choosing to transfer to the new North Huddersfield Secondary School?

Table A - Proposed timeline for the new 11-16 secondary school for north Huddersfield at Fell Greave and changes to Fartown High School

Table B - How would the proposed changes affect my child currently attending Fartown High 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.

Fartown High is proposed to close in August 2011. All pupils at the school would be offered places at the new North Huddersfield Secondary School from September 2011. (Parents are entitled to apply for admission to any other high school with spare places.) The new North Huddersfield Secondary School would be located on the Fartown site and move to the new building at Fell Greave when it is complete in 2013.

• Current Year 10 pupils would complete their Year 11 courses and exams in June 2011 at Fartown High School and make their post 16 choices for September 2011.
• Current Year 9 pupils would complete their Year 10 at Fartown High School and be offered a place in Year 11 at the new North Huddersfield Secondary School in September 2011.
• Current Year 8 pupils would complete their Year 9 at Fartown High School and be offered a place in Year 10 at the new North Huddersfield Secondary School in September 2011.
• Current Year 7 pupils would complete their Year 8 at Fartown High School and be offered a place in Year 9 at the new North Huddersfield Secondary School in September 2011. Pupils would move to the new building in September 2013.
• Current Year 6 pupils at primary school who are transferring to Fartown High School in September 2010 would complete their Year 7 at Fartown High School and be offered a place in Year 8 at the new North Huddersfield Secondary School in September 2011. Pupils would move to the new building in September 2013.
• We propose to establish a strong partnership between the leadership of Fartown High School and the leadership of the new North Huddersfield Secondary School to ensure a smooth transition for all pupils.

Table C - How would the proposed changes affect my child currently attending a primary school and choosing to transfer to the new North Huddersfield Secondary 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.

Fartown High School is proposed to close in August 2011. The new North Huddersfield Secondary School would be located on the Fartown site and move to the new building at Fell Greave when it is complete in 2013.

• Current Year 6 pupils at primary school who are transferring to Fartown High School in September 2010 would complete their Year 7 at Fartown High School and be offered a place in Year 8 at the new North Huddersfield Secondary School in September 2011. Pupils would move to the new building in September 2013.
• Primary School pupils in Year 5 and below would be able to express a preference to transfer to the new North Huddersfield Secondary School from September 2011 onwards. The new school would be based in the existing Fartown High School building until the new building at Fell Greave is ready in September 2013.