Decision details

32.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to amalgamate St Thomas a Becket Catholic Infant and Junior schools in Eastbourne.

32.2     RESOLVED to approve the closure of St Thomas a Becket Catholic Junior School on 31 August 2017 and to alter the upper age limit of St Thomas a Becket Catholic Infant School from 4 to 7 to 4 to 11 with effect from 1 September 2017 in order to create an all through primary school.

Reasons

32.3     The proposal aligns the new school with Diocesan policy regarding all through primary schools.  The governing body believes that the long term future for Catholic education in the area can best be achieved through amalgamating the two schools.  The proposal is also in line with East Sussex County Council’s School Organisation Policy which supports the amalgamation of infant and junior schools.