Whitley Memorial C of E First School and Bedlington West End First School approached Northumberland County Council earlier this year to ask the council to run a public consultation on extending the age ranges of their schools to become primaries.

 

The council agreed to facilitate the consultation after considering the schools’ requests and taking into account the current school arrangements in Bedlington - where the majority of schools are already within a two-tier system

 

The consultation was launched on 23 April and is running until Wednesday 12 June 2019.

 

Everyone is encouraged to express their views, and the council is particularly keen to hear from members of the local community.  Full details, including how to respond, can be found online at www.northumberland.gov.uk/schoolconsultations 

 

In response to the requests from the governing bodies the consultation is on a proposal to extend the age ranges of Whitley Memorial and West End First so that the schools would become primary schools with effect from 1 September 2020.

 

ANorthumberland County Council spokesperson said:  “Following requests from the local schools to consult on extending their age ranges, the council’s cabinet agreed to facilitate the process.

  

“We are particularly keen to hear the views of the whole Bedlington community on the proposals, which has been devised by the schools themselves.

 

“The views of all parents, schools and the wider community are welcomed, along with alternative proposals or suggestions that could be considered.”

 

The majority of schools in the Bedlington Partnership are already within a two-tier system, with only West End First, Whitley Memorial First and Meadowdale Middle Academy remaining three-tier.

 

Since the two senior academies, Bedlington and St Benet Biscop Catholic, took their decisions to change to 11 to 18 secondary schools they have retained two intakes each September - to year 7 and year 9 - to reflect the mixed system.

 

These schools have recently announced that they will remove the intake into Year 9 and will only have one annual intake of pupils into Year 7.  

 

If you want to take part in the current consultation, you can complete an electronic questionnaire via the council’s website, or download the consultation document and complete the questionnaire at the back.

 

To request a paper copy of the consultation information please email educationconsultation@northumberland.gov.uk or write to:

The School Organisation Team, Children’s Services Group, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF 

 

Consultation closes at midnight on Wednesday 12 June 2019