Consultation have begun 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 secondary education in Clifton and The Meadows.

Under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, the government expects local authorities to expand, improve or rebuild popular, successful schools and to close schools where pupil numbers are too low to maintain a viable school. In its recent Ofsted report Farnborough school was judged to be outstanding; we want to build upon this excellence and extend this quality of provision to the whole community in Clifton and The Meadows. Therefore the proposal is to close Fairham Community College and to increase the capacity at Farnborough School Technology College by 25%. Farnborough School will be rebuilt either on its current site or, pending the outcome of environmental research on the Farnborough school site, on the site of the current Fairham School.

Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: "Planning for the future of Fairham and Farnborough schools has been going on for some time. Initial consultation carried out in March 2006 showed significant support for these proposals. Since then, £17.5 million has been allocated by central government to implement the proposal to rebuild Farnborough School Technology College for the benefit of the whole of the Clifton community.

"The building of the new school will provide many exciting opportunities for students, staff, governors, parents and community groups to have an input into the design of the school."

Public consultation on the proposals will begin on Monday, 16 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.

Further information is available from Nottingham City Council’s School Organisation Team on 0115 915 0906 or by email at sot@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

The proposed changes are:

Fairham Community College:

• Close with effect from 31st August 2009.
• Transfer all pupils on roll to Farnborough School Technology College in September 2009.

Farnborough School Technology College:

• Make a prescribed alteration to increase the capacity at the school from 840 places to provide 1050 places for pupils aged 11-16 with effect from 1st September 2009.
• Completely rebuild Farnborough School Technology College on its current site if the Health Protection Agency report on environmental conditions confirms that the Farnborough site meets all necessary provisions of the BSF programme.
• Provide temporary accommodation to increase the capacity of the expanded Farnborough School Technology College pending completion of the building works.

• All pupils of the enlarged Farnborough School Technology College to move into the new building in 2010/11.