Harrow Council Consultation on the Future Organisation of Whitchurch First School and Nursery and Whitchurch Junior School Consultation meetings - November 2014

Consultation proposal ●It is proposed to join together the two schools to form one combined school on 1 April 2015 –One School –One Governing Body –One Headteacher ●Harrow Council consultation ●The consultation is being held from Monday 3 November until Friday 12 December 2014

Proposal 1 – Harrow Council Policy Harrow Council’s preferred model is a combined school. This is based on an educational rationale: –Consistent planning across the primary key stages. –Flexibility in delivering the curriculum. –Reduces the number of changes for children. –Opportunities for staff development and experience. –Promotes the recruitment and retention of staff. Harrow Council has had an amalgamation policy since The policy requires Governing Bodies to combine separate infant and junior schools when a headteacher vacancy arises in either or both schools. 24 separate community schools have amalgamated since 2006 to form 12 combined schools.

How would the schools combine? Legal Process: ●The age range and capacity of Whitchurch Junior School would be extended to include those of the First School. ●Whitchurch First School and Nursery would close as a legal entity.

How would the schools combine? So far: ●Steering group established by both Governing Bodies to oversee the consultation process, with and on behalf of the Council If amalgamation proceeds – suggested process: ●Establish a working group with representatives of both schools – usually Governors ●Draw up, agree and implement an action plan that implements the amalgamated school and establishes an all through school over a period of time ●Re-constitute the Governing Body of the Junior school to properly represent the amalgamated school

How will the decision be made? ●The Governing Bodies will make their recommendation to Harrow Council ●Harrow Council will decide whether to publish statutory proposals ●Statutory proposals would be published in January for a four week representation period ●Final decision would be made by Harrow Cabinet in February

More Information, Responses and Feedback ●More information: –Consultation paper widely distributed –Proposal Evaluation has detail about the educational reasons ●How to respond: –Consultation response form. These will be considered by the Governing Bodies and Harrow Council. The Governing Bodies will make their recommendations to Harrow Council.

Discussion and Questions ●Small group discussions -Your contribution and questions will be recorded -Please write additional comments and questions on “post-its” and hand in at the end ●Questions?