Newton Aycliffe, Proposal To Amalgamate Junior & Nursery Schools

PUBLIC NOTICE

Proposal to change the age range of St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School from 7-11 to 2-11 from 1 September 2025 to create an all through C of E (Aided) Primary School and to close Horndale County Infant and Nursery School as a Registered School on 31 August 2025.

Notice is given in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that Durham County Council intends to make a prescribed alteration to St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School Scholars Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 7HB and to close Horndale County Infant and Nursery School (Community) Scholars Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 7HB.

It is proposed to amalgamate Horndale County Infant and Nursery School and St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School into one all through C of E (Aided) Primary School on 1 September 2025. Initially this will be across the existing sites of Horndale County Infant and Nursery School and St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School and eventually in the building of St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School8. This will be achieved by changing the age range of St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School from 7-11 to 2-11 from 1 September 2025 to create one all through C of E (Aided) Primary School from that date and by closing Horndale County Infant and Nursery School as a registered school on 31 August 2025.

The proposal reflects the work being done across County Durham to bring separate Infant and Junior Schools together where appropriate to form primary schools so children can benefit from primary education in one school rather than changing schools at age 7. Amalgamating the schools will enable children to be more effectively educated on one site in a larger, more viable establishment that can offer a broader curriculum and sustain educational standards.

The current capacity of Horndale County Infant and Nursery School School is for 216 pupils. The current capacity of St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School is for 164 pupils. The capacity of the proposed C of E (Aided) Primary school will be for 210 pupils. The proposed admission number for the proposed C of E (Aided) Primary school will be 30. At present Horndale County Infant and Nursery School is judged as 'Good' by Ofsted and St. Francis C of E (Aided) Junior School is also judged as 'Good'. The council believes that amalgamating the two schools will lead to a model of education that benefits children and their families and the proposal will therefore not have any negative impact on the standard of education provided to children in these schools.

This Notice is an extract from the full proposal. Copies of the complete proposal can be obtained via an email request to: schoolorganisation@durham.gov.uk

It is also available on the County Council's website at: www.durham.gov.uk/consultatlons

Within four weeks from the date of this publication any person may object or make comments on the proposal by emailing them to: schoolorganisation@durham.gov.uk

Signed:

John Pearce Corporate Director, Children and Young People's Services

Publication Date: 7 November 2024