We've approved age range changes for schools in the Shefford and Stotfold area
Thursday, 6 August 2020
We've approved a change of age range for our ten maintained schools in Shefford, Stotfold and the surrounding area, enabling them to move to a primary / secondary model.
This is part of our Schools for the Future programme, which is to ensure that we have the right schools, in the right places, delivering the best education. The proposal follows a statutory consultation and, before that, a 12-week public consultation.
The decision, by our Executive Committee, will see age range changes begin from September 2023 (unless stated) for:
- Campton Lower School (new build two form of entry)
- Derwent Lower School (change to begin from September 2021)
- Fairfield Park Lower School
- Haynes Lower School
- Roecroft Lower School
- Shefford Lower School
- Shillington Lower School
- Southill Lower School
- St Mary’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Lower School
- Stondon Lower School
Admission numbers
There will also be changes to the pupil admission numbers among these maintained schools.
Numbers will increase for:
- Campton Lower School
- Derwent Lower School
- Fairfield Park Lower School
- Haynes Lower School
Numbers will reduce for:
- Roecroft Lower School
- Shefford Lower School
Numbers won't change for:
- Shillington Lower School
- Southill Lower School
- St Mary’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Lower School
- Stondon Lower School
The next stage is to develop the detailed designs and costings to implement the changes, with proposals to be considered by our Executive. Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision is integral to the Schools for the Future programme and will be developed with the schools and other stakeholders from the autumn.
Academies
The plans have been coordinated with the 12 academy schools in the Shefford and Stotfold area, which will also change to a primary / secondary model. As these are academies and not under our control, they do not need to carry out statutory consultations. Instead, they will apply to the Regional Schools Commissioner to make age range changes, which will see:
- Meppershall, Langford, Clifton All Saints and Raynsford (and Derwent) lower schools change to primary in 2021, at the same time as Henlow (the school they feed in to) begins to change to secondary
- Robert Bloomfield and Samuel Whitbread to come together as a 0 to 18 all through school on the same site from 2023
- Pix Brook and Etonbury to become secondary schools in 2023
- Gravenhurst, St. Mary’s Stotfold and Gothic Mede lower schools to convert to primary in 2023
- additional sixth form provision on the Samuel Whitbread Academy and Etonbury Academy or Pix Brook Academy site
An important milestone
Councillor Sue Clark, our Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
This is an important milestone. Our aim is to raise educational standards, while meeting the demand for new school places as Central Bedfordshire grows over the next 15 to 20 years.
We have worked with all schools/academies in the area to shape a plan that is suitable for all and puts the interests of children at the centre, so they can get the most out of their education and achieve the best start in life.
The majority of the UK works within a primary/secondary model of education, so this decision will align Shefford, Stotfold and the surrounding area with the rest of the country. This will also help create a clearer pathway for parents and improve our schools’ opportunities to retain and recruit a strong teaching workforce.