Outcome of the Consultation
We are delighted to announce the decision to amalgamate both Weyford Infant School and Nursery and Weyford Junior school to form an all through primary school has now been formally approved by the local Council; the primary school will open in September 2017.
Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Education, Councillor Peter Edgar, formally approved the recommendation at a decision meeting held on 18th January 2017. The decision is the culmination of a six-month consultation period between the local education authority, school staff, governors and parents. With both schools being judged as ‘good’ by Ofsted (the infant school as recently as December 2016) the new primary school will offer an exciting choice to families within the Bordon area; with the option of educating children from 2 ½ in the nursery provision up to and including 11 year olds.
Adam Smith, the Chair of Governors for Weyford Junior School, confirmed that
'We are thrilled the merger of the two schools has been agreed. Other schools which have been through this process have seen outcomes for children improve strongly and we are confident this will be the case at our new through primary'.
The day-to-day operation of the schools, in their current locations, will change very little. However, the governance and leadership will be restructured to create one governing body and one senior leadership team. Both school buildings will remain open, as they are now.
Both schools have already begun to work more closely together, including regular joint staff meetings and weekly whole site assemblies. The amalgamation decision gives us the opportunity to formalise our exciting plans for the future. We look forward to continuing to work with all our families and will keep you informed of all developments as we prepare for the opening of the primary school.
A consultation about the future of Weyford Infant School and Nursery and Weyford Junior School is underway. The consultation starts on Monday 6th June. All parents and other people and groups in the local area have been sent a copy of the letter below.
The Governing Bodies of Weyford Infant School & Nursery and Weyford Junior School have requested that Hampshire County Council consult with the schools’ community and other interested parties on the closure of the infant school and changing the age range of the junior school to become a primary (4 – 11 years) within the existing schools’ buildings, with an anticipated effective date of 1 September 2017. Upon the implementation of this proposal, the school will continue to offer 90 places for Year R (age 4+). The nursery remains unaffected in this proposal.
There are drop in surgeries where it will be possible for you to discuss this proposal and ask any questions you may have. These will be held in the infant school annex and the arrangements for these surgeries are in the letter below.