Monday October 29 will see the start of Nottingham City Council’s statutory consultation into the closure of Greenwood Dale School, Elliott Durham and Jesse Boot Primary schools and into the concept of 3-19 education.

At the same time Greenwood Dale School starts their consultation on the proposed Nottingham Academy. The closure of the three schools would be necessary for this new Academy to open. NCC and GDS are working closely together on these two consultation processes and will share the consultation meetings detailed below.

Residents, schools and organisations are being asked for their views on a proposal which will include Greenwood Dale School proposing to sponsor an Academy of 3,520 pupils to be located on the current Greenwood Dale School and neighbouring Jesse Boot Primary School site in Sneinton and the Elliott Durham school site in St Ann’s. As part of the proposal there would some changes to the catchment area of Hadden Park High School.

The new Academy would involve a combination of new buildings, refurbishment and minor works on the three sites, costing in excess of £50m. Government funding would provide £45m with a significant additional financial contribution from the City Council.

Consultation events on the proposal to establish an academy and close the Elliott Durham, Greenwood Dale and Jesse Boot schools will run on the following dates:

Monday 29 September  Elliott Durham School  

Staff  3.00 – 4.30pm

Governors 5.00 – 6.00pm

Parents/carers/community  6.15 – 7.30pm

Tuesday 30 September Greenwood Dale School 

Staff  3.00 – 4.30pm

Governors 5.00 – 6.00pm

Parents/carers/community  6.15 – 7.30pm

Wednesday 1 October  Jesse Boot Primary and Nursery School

Staff  3.00 – 4.30pm

Governors 5.00 – 6.00pm

Parents/carers/community 6.15 – 7.30pm

Consultation events on the proposal to change the catchment area for The Hadden Park High School will run on following date:

Monday 6 October  The Hadden Park High School 

Staff  3.00 – 4.30pm

Governors 5.00 – 6.00pm

Parents/carers/community 6.15 – 7.30pm

Nottingham City Council will start the four weeks of consultation on Monday September 29 which will run until 12noon Friday 24th October.The Council’s decision on the Academy, based on the results of the consultation, is expected in November. If the all-through school wins support, it would enable the Academy to open in September 2009 in the current Greenwood Dale, Elliott Durham and Jesse Boot buildings, moving to new buildings in September 2011.

If the proposals are agreed it would lead to the closure of Greenwood Dale School and Technology College, Elliott Durham School and Jesse Boot Primary school in order to form the new Academy.

Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said the City Council would explore the benefits and the challenges of all-through schools.

"The Consultation will be an opportunity to weigh up the benefits and the impact of an all-through school for pupils, parents and the wider community. We will look at the evidence for raising standards and find out from the consultation whether there is support from the community. We will also be looking at the well being of children as a key factor in the proposed new arrangements."

Consultation forms for people to give their views on the proposals can be found at

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/wt_school_organisation

Greenwood Dale School are running their own separate consultation on the nature of the academy which will last until Monday December 15.