Woodgate Primary School Change of Age Range
Summary of proposals
Increase the age range of Woodgate Primary School from age 4 - 11 (YR – Y6) to become an age 2 -11 (Nursery – Y6) primary school with effect from May 2023.
Introduction
Following the relocation of Warninglid Primary School in September 2021 to Pease Pottage, and its change of name to Woodgate Primary, West Sussex County Council and the Governors of the school wish to consult on a change of age range. Woodgate Nursery opened in Jan 2022 serving pre-school children from 2 years and six months of age to four years of age. The change in age range would formally incorporate Woodgate Nursery into the school.
Need for change
The Governing Body of Woodgate Primary agreed to convert to become an Academy under the Sussex Learning Trust early in the Autumn term in 2022. The Academy Order was agreed with the Department for Education and the Trust on 29th September 2022.
Woodgate nursery is a Governor-led pre-school which is run in a purpose-built classroom in the Woodgate Primary school building. Conversion of the legal status of the school does not automatically include the nursery. The Department for Education has advised that a change of age range is required for the nursery to transfer with the school to become part of the academy trust.
The proposal
WSCC and the Governors propose to increase the age range of Woodgate Primary School from age 4 - 11 (YR – Y6) to an age 2 -11 (Nursery – Y6) primary school with effect from May 2023 prior to completion of the conversion of the school to an academy. The 2-11 age range school and nursery would continue to be located on the existing Woodgate Primary site. The consultation is a requirement of the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.
Staffing
Staff are our most valuable resource, and it is important that should there be any need for changes these are dealt with fairly and sensitively. The unions and professional associations will be informed about this consultation and will be involved with the academisation at each stage. This proposal will ensure that nursery staff transfer to the academy in the same way as teaching staff. Union involvement is designed to support all staff through the process of change.
Statutory Notices
The public consultation is a two-stage process, initially an informal consultation takes place over four weeks. At the end of this period, and following analysis of the comments received, the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills, Nigel Jupp, will decide whether to publish statutory notices. If he decides to proceed with the proposals, formal statutory notices will be published for a further four-week period. This document initiates the first phase of consultation. We anticipate the final decision to change the age range to be taken in May 2023 allowing the school to academize in June 2023.
Representations
If you would like to make a representation in response to the statutory notice then please email Vanessa Cummins at Vanessa.cummins@westsussex.gov.uk
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