THE AMALGAMATION of two Stockingford schools has been given the go ahead.
Warwickshire County Council’s all-powerful cabinet have the green light for Stockingford Junior and Infant Schools to combine from September 1.
The junior school will now officially close on August 31, but the sites and buildings of both schools will be used.
A massive £200,000 has now been allocated from the county council’s Schools Capital Programme 2012-2013 in a bid to make minor modifications to the buildings.
As reported in the Nuneaton News consultation into the plans took place earlier this year.
No objections were received to the proposal and at a meeting of the now defunct Nuneaton and Bedworth Area Committee unanimous support for the plans was given by councillors and also staff from the schools.
Councillor Heather Timms, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said that the amalgamation will offer real benefits to the children of Stockingford.
“The Warwickshire Schools Organisation Framework favours the creation of all through primary schools rather than separate infant and junior schools where they share the same site or are adjacent,” she said.
“The most important factor is the education of the children at the school and one through school offers great benefits for them and their families.”
The transition between infant and junior school is often seen as a difficult time for children when attainment levels dip.
It is believed that all through primary schools remove this factor.
It also enables pupils’ assessment to be tracked more efficiently so an appropriate work plan is used, greater flexibility of staff’s skills who can engage with pupils across the KS1 and KS2 spectrum, continuity for parents and offers benefits in economies of scale, governance and leadership.
Cllr Timms added: "As well as developing the relationship with pupils through two key stages, which helps to assess their needs more accurately, all through primary schools also make for a more efficient structure and a better teaching experience.
"Everyone involved in the school will benefit."
