The governors of two Hove primary schools have this week given their unanimous backing to a merger.
The governors of Davigdor Infant School voted in favour of the merger on Monday (2 March) and the governors of Somerhill Junior School backed the amalgamation on Tuesday (3 March).
A report to the Brighton and Hove City Council Children and Young People Committee meeting next Monday (9 March) outlines the timetable for a merger to take effect from Tuesday 1 September.
The report says: “Public consultation about the amalgamation of Davigdor Infant and Somerhill Junior schools has shown that there is a high level of support from parents, staff and governors for the proposal to amalgamate the two schools.”
Subject to approval next Monday, when the Children and Young People Committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall, statutory notices will be published. This is the next stage in the formal merger process.
If all goes to plan, the Children and Young People Committee will give its final approval in June.
The report says: “The council will consider merging linked infant and junior schools when the head teacher of one of the schools leaves.
“Each case for possible amalgamation is considered on its merits and any proposals for change are subject to public consultation.
“This proposal has come forward now because the head teacher of Davigdor Infant School (Ged Cotton) is retiring and therefore leaving the school.
“At present Davigdor Infant and Somerhill Junior schools operate as separate institutions on the same site, each with its own head teacher, staff and governing body.
“The majority of children transfer from the infant school to the junior school at age seven.
“Both schools have positive Ofsted judgments. Somerhill Junior School was graded ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ leadership and management and ‘outstanding’ behaviour and safety of pupils in December 2014.
“Davigdor Infant School was graded ‘outstanding’ in July 2008 and as a result of desk-top monitoring Ofsted has not found it necessary to reinspect the school since that time.”
“In the autumn term 2014 officers discussed the future arrangement for Davigdor Infant and Somerhill Junior schools with the two governing bodies, separately and then in a joint meeting.
“The two schools already work very well together.
“At the end of this process both governing bodies confirmed their support for consultation on a proposal to amalgamate the two schools.
“The proposal is to create a four form entry community primary school for pupils aged 4–11 years by closing Davigdor Infant School and extending the age range of Somerhill Junior School.
“This should in no way be seen as a ‘takeover’ of one school by the other.
“It is the legal means by which a single primary school would be achieved and both schools would work together as equal partners in bringing it about.
“The head teacher of the junior school (Shaun Collins) would continue as the head teacher of the primary school. All pupils offered a place at Davigdor Infants for September 2015 will automatically start at the newly amalgamated school from that date.”
