THE creation of a new primary school in Caerphilly will hopefully enable “even higher standards of education”, but could result in less funding being available.
Hendre Infants and Hendre Junior schools could join together to form a new primary campus.
A consultation on the amalgamation plans opened on Monday September 2 and will run for six weeks.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s education committee was told, at a meeting on Tuesday September 3, that governors decided to pursue the amalgamation of the schools following “a lot of debate” about the options available.
The move is “a more formal way of extending existing collaboration and promoting closer working relationships”, according to the council.
One headteacher currently serves the two schools, which have been informally “collaborating” since September 2022.
Joining the two schools to create a new primary will “build upon the strengths of each separate infant and junior school to ensure that experiences are further enhanced, enabling even higher standards of education to be provided”, the council said.
It will also “enable a whole school view of and consistent approach to learning and teaching, curriculum delivery and achievement, through a single vision with consistent ethos to benefit pupils, staff, parents and carers”.
At the meeting, Cllr Colin Gordon asked about the financial implications of the amalgamation.
Currently, each school is funded separately.
Cllr Gordon asked whether “any funds [will] be lost or gained” if the two schools merge.
Sue Richards, the council’s head of education planning, said the funding formula “does change and it will reduce” if the schools become a single primary campus.
She said governors of the schools were “fully aware of the slight financial implications” but had agreed on amalgamation as the way forward.
The consultation on the proposal runs until Tuesday October 15.
If the council decides to approve the amalgamation deal, it could take effect in September 2025.
To take part in the consultation, visit https://conversation.caerphilly.gov.uk/hendre-junior-school-and-hendre-infants-school
