An amalgamation would bring together two (or more) maintained schools as one single school, located on the same site and under the same leadership and governance arrangements. Amalgamation would reduce the number of surplus places in the area and ensure that the resulting school would have a stronger pupil roll and improved sustainability. The earliest that an amalgamation could be implemented is the 2020/21 school year and there may be a transitional period for all of the schools concerned.
Staff
For staff, amalgamation will mean that they effectively work in a new school. It would be for the school leaders and governing bodies to agree on the ethos and approach of this new school. It could mean a change of location, depending on which school site the ‘new’ school occupies.
Governors
For governors, an amalgamation would mean that the schools’ individual governing bodies are disbanded and a new single over-arching governing body is formed to support the new school. The individual governing bodies would need to work together to agree the ethos, approach, and governance structure of the new school. The LA will work closely with governing bodies of schools affected to help them decide on the process and the best governance structures moving forward.
Parents and pupils
For parents and pupils, it would mean the effective closure of the existing schools and the creation of a new school with greater resources to invest in teaching and learning as well as extra-curricular activities. Pupils attending the existing schools would continue on at the new school which may mean a change of location, depending on which school site the ‘new’ school occupies. Amalgamations will be considered carefully to minimise impact on school communities, including considerations of distance to school, availability of places and faith school preferences.
Wider community
For the wider community, it would also mean the effective closure of the existing schools and the creation of a new school onto one of the existing sites. This will enable the local authority to ensure that:
- children across the borough continue to receive a high quality education
- children have access to a suitable school place in their local area
- the local authority is using public resources efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for children and families and
- to provide opportunity for school sites to be used to support other activities to promote learning in the community.