Proposal to Amalgamate Moss Park Infant and Junior Schools Statutory Notice

Part 1 - Proposal to discontinue Moss Park Infant School from April 2023

Notice is given, in accordance with section 15(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, that Trafford Council, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road Stretford, M32 0TH, intends to discontinue Moss Park Infant School, a community school, Moss Park Road, Stretford, M32 9HR. The proposal to close Moss Park Infant School is related to a proposal to extend the age range of Moss Park Junior School to offer provision for pupils aged 3 years to 11 years.

The published admission number (PAN) for the Infant School is 60 covering the age range 3 to 7. The maximum number of children on roll at the School is 180. The net capacity of the School is 172.

The proposal to discontinue Moss Park Infant School is linked to the proposal to extend the age range of Moss Park Junior School. The combined effect of these linked proposals is the amalgamation of the two schools. On current adjacent sites, this will create a 420 place community primary school (plus 52 part time nursery places) for pupils aged 3 – 11.

At the time of the publication of the proposal the number of children on roll is 179 (not including the nursery children). It is proposed that all children on roll at Moss Park Infant School will be automatically admitted to the extended Moss Park Junior School which will become Moss Park Primary School. There is therefore no requirement for special transitional and transport arrangements. Other pupils wishing to gain admission to the proposed new primary school will be subject to the usual admission and home to school transport policies.

Early years provision and extended services offered which serve both Infant and Junior Schools will continue at the amalgamated school.

We do not consider that there will be any adverse impact on the community.

Part 2 - Proposal to extend the age range of Moss Park Junior School to 3 to 11 years from April 2023

Notice is given, in accordance with section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, that Trafford Council intends to make a prescribed alteration to Moss Park Junior School, a community school, Moss Park Road, Stretford, M32 9HR.

School capacity

The published admission number (PAN) for the School is also 60 covering the age range 7 to 11. The maximum number of children on roll at the School is 240. The net capacity of the school is 233. At the time of the publication of the proposal the number of children on roll is 255.

It is proposed that the age range will be changed to age 3 to 11.

This proposal is linked to the proposal to discontinue Moss Park Infant School. The combined effect of these linked proposals is amalgamation of the two schools. On the same shared site, this will create a 420 place community primary school for pupils aged 3 – 11. The maximum number of children on roll at the primary school will therefore be 420. The net capacity of the amalgamated schools will be 395. There are no proposed physical alterations.

Additional site

The proposal is to accommodate all children on the current site. No new or additional site will be required.

Objectives

The proposals will enable better continuity and progression of children’s work, particularly between key stage 1 (age 5-7) and key stage 2 (age 7-11), creating opportunities for improved educational standards and achievement. Pupils will not be required to transfer between the schools at Year 3, supporting curriculum continuity and in turn creating the opportunity for improved educational achievement.

As the school will provide education at foundation, key stage 1 and key stage 2, it will be able to offer expertise to cover the whole curriculum.

The amalgamation will provide opportunities to increase the range of expertise and experience of teaching staff and provide opportunities for improvements in the deployment and development of teachers. It will offer increased opportunities for staff to develop their professional interests and skills. This will assist in the recruitment and retention of staff by providing greater professional opportunities.

It will enable the schools to develop a single vision for the future. The amalgamation will provide opportunities for development of the curriculum with enhanced delivery. The two schools provide a good education for their pupils at present and are well supported by parents and governors.

The amalgamation will reduce management and running costs due to economies of scale. The amalgamation will provide opportunity for better use of educational resources including teaching and non-teaching staff

Consultation

We consulted on these proposals for six weeks. The details of the informal consultation, including a list of who we consulted and the comments and responses provided were included in the report to the Executive Member for Children’s Services, supported by accompanying documents. All applicable statutory requirements in relation to the proposals to consult were complied with.

Project Costs

Sufficient accommodation is available for an amalgamated primary school and no capital costs are anticipated.