Office of The Schools Adjudicator: Adjudicators publish decisions on proposed primary school reorganisations in Medway

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has published a series of decisions on proposals by Medway Council to reorganise a number of primary schools..

A proposal to amalgamate Delce Infant and Junior schools was considered by the Adjudicator, Alan Parker He concluded that the general policy of seeking to amalgamate separate infant and junior schools was correct when appropriate conditions are met. However circumstances changed after Medway Council embarked on the process.  The Council's separate decision not to pursue its initial to plan close St Peter's Infant School was considered by its own officers as a decisive factor that tipped the balance away from a proposal that should be pursued to one that should not. Having reviewed all the arguments placed before him the Adjudicator agreed with that analysis and rejected the proposals.

A proposal to close St John's Church of England Infant School was considered by the Adjudicator, Bryan Slater. He concluded that there was no strong case to close the school and rejected the proposal. The Council has a general policy of preferring all-through primary schools to separate infant and junior schools, but his view was that the application of such a policy must be subject to the individual circumstances.

The latest forecast of pupil numbers for the area shows that places at St John's will be needed in the future. It is not a school with consistently low standards, and its closure would affect the proportion of Church of England places available to parents. Closure would also, he believed, cause disproportionate difficulty for parents in accessing alternative places, and adversely affect the local community.

A proposal to amalgamate Twydall Infant and Junior Schools in 2011 was considered by the Adjudicator, Richard Lindley. He considered carefully the concerns that had been expressed, but believed that educational benefits would follow from greater continuity and flexibility in an amalgamated school. The Council's aim is to provide a physical link between the two existing premises as soon as possible, and the special provision for children with physical and other disabilities will continue in the amalgamated school.

A proposal to amalgamate Luton Infant and Junior Schools in 2014 was considered by the Adjudicator, Richard Lindley. He considered carefully the concerns that had been expressed, particularly from the infant school.  However, he approved the proposal, in the knowledge that new buildings would bring great advantage, and that educational benefits would follow from greater continuity and flexibility in an amalgamated school.

Notes to editors

1. Schools adjudicators are independent of the Government. They decide on school organisation issues, disputes on land transfer and assets and admission arrangements which cannot be resolved locally. They were appointed under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Their role is to look afresh at all cases referred to them, considering each case on its merits and taking account of the reasons for disagreement at local level in the lights of the legislation and the guidance in the School Admissions Code.

2. Copies of the determination reached b the adjudicator can be obtained from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. It can also be found on the Schools Adjudicator website - www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk Individual adjudicators are not in a position to comment on their decisions but, if clarification of those decisions is needed, enquiries can be addressed to: The Office of the Schools Adjudicator, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington. DL3 9BG

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