Consultation begins shortly on the latest round of Nottingham’s school re-organisation programme which aims to create a pattern of school provision across the city that is fit for the 21st Century.

The latest round includes re-organisation of primary education in Bulwell and East Basford.

The proposal is to close one infant and nursery and one junior school and extend the age range of one junior school and one infant and nursery school to create all-through primary schools for 3-11 year olds. Primary schools offer advantages over separate infant and nursery schools. For example parents only need to apply for a place once at a primary school (not twice – to infant and then junior) and pupils will not have to ‘up sticks’ at seven years old and move to a new school. The proposal will also increase capacity at three primary and nursery schools. This will expand popular and successful schools and redistribute school places more equitably where they are needed whilst retaining schools which serve their local community both now and in the future.

Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: “The proposals to reorganise schools in Nottingham are a positive step towards raising educational attainment, primarily in the areas directly concerned, but also across the City as a whole. By constantly keeping the supply of school places under review we can ensure that places are available where pupils live and where parents wish them to go to school.

Surplus places cause a drain on the finances of individual schools and the City as a whole which is why we need to reduce them. This then allows us to divert resources towards expanding popular, successful and oversubscribed schools.”

Public consultation on the proposals will begin on Monday, 9 June. Consultation booklets will be sent to all parents and carers of pupils at the schools concerned and will also be available to view and download at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk. There will also drop-in meetings for parents, carers and the local community.

The proposed changes are:  

• Bonington Junior School: Extend the age range from 7-11 to 3-11 years, to create a 420 place primary school with a 60 place Full Time Equivalent (FTE) nursery. Incorporate the buildings of Bonington Infant & Nursery School in the enlarged school. Increase the catchment area to include part of current Rufford catchment area.
• Bonington Infant and Nursery School: Close the school and incorporate the buildings and site in the proposed primary school.
• Rufford Infant and Nursery School: Extend the age range from 3-7 to 3-11 years, creating a 210 place primary school with a 30-place FTE nursery. Incorporate the buildings of Rufford Junior School in the enlarged school. Reallocate part of the current Rufford catchment area to Bonington Primary.
• Rufford Junior School: Close the school and incorporate the buildings and site in the proposed primary school.
• Hempshill Hall Primary and Nursery School: Increase the capacity from 357 to 420 with a 60-place FTE nursery.
• Bulwell St Mary’s Primary and Nursery School: Increase the capacity from 294 to 315 with a 45-place FTE nursery. Reallocate a small strip of the catchment area adjacent to Cantrell Primary School to Cantrell.
• Snape Wood Primary and Nursery School: Retain as a 210 place primary school with a 30 place FTE nursery.
• Springfield Primary and Nursery School: Retain as a 210 place primary school with a 30 place FTE nursery.
• Southwark Primary and Nursery School: Increase the capacity from 596 to 630 with a 90 place FTE nursery. Relocate in a new building on a single site.
• Cantrell Primary and Nursery School: Retain as a 420 place primary school with 60 place FTE nursery. Reallocate a small strip of catchment area from Bulwell St Mary’s to the current Cantrell catchment area.
• Heathfield Primary and Nursery School: Retain as a 280 place primary school with a 40 place FTE nursery.
• Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Primary and Nursery School: The remit to reorganise this school lies with the Catholic Diocese. However, pupil numbers are included in the overall area numbers as they have an impact within the local area. This is a 210 place primary school with a 25 place FTE nursery.

A 210 place school can admit up to 30 pupils in each year group and a 420 place school can admit 60. New catchment areas will take effect from 1 September 2009 and will apply to all first admission into the reception year and transfers into all years in the school from September 2009 onwards.