As previously reported, the education authority is considering an ‘all-through primary school’ for Bitterne Park, rather than the current arrangement of separate infant and junior schools – and is now consulting over the issue. If the idea goes ahead Bitterne Park’s primary school could open as soon as September.

 

The education authority says the proposal “is being put forward because the infant school does not have a permanent head teacher and the junior school has an Interim Executive Board instead of a governing body”.

Under the plans the infant school would close and the age range served by the junior school would be expanded, but the consultation document (PDF) stresses that: “While the term discontinue is used, this proposal is focused on merging and bringing together two schools.”

“The primary school would continue to operate on the same site and in the same buildings as the existing infant and junior schools,” says the document.

What are the benefits?

The authority says some advantages of an all-through primary include:

• Coherence of curriculum from the early years foundation stage through to the end of key stage 2;
• Commonality of school policies;
• Sharing of resources; and
• Parents would no longer need to apply for a year three place at the junior school; they would simply progress from year two to year three at the beginning of the academic year.

One criticism of all-through primaries is that they can become larger, less personal environments for children – particularly when they start their schooling.

'Case not necessarily cut and dried'

Bitterne Park ward councillor and former cabinet member for children’s services Peter Baillie previously told bitternepark.info that the case is not necessarily cut and dried:

“While there’s a very persuasive case for it, equally you can make a case for keeping the places separate, so there does need to be a decent discussion,” he said in December.

How to find out more and have a say

• Comments can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or posted, using the form on the consultation document.
• A consultation drop-in session will be held at Bitterne Park Infant School on Monday March 18 from 2.30-3.30pm. Parents of pupils from both schools are welcome. Representatives from the local authority will be on hand to answer questions.