Merger needs cash

3:30pm Friday 25th July 2008

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PLANS to merge two Colebrook schools will only be accepted by governors if Swindon Council can find the money to provide a new building to house pupils.

The proposals currently being considered by the council would see Colebrook Infant and Junior Schools turned into an all-through primary school from September 2009.

The two schools are based on the same site but in different buildings.

The council’s policy on amalgamations has a number of triggers for merging schools.

In this case the fact that the junior school’s headteacher, Frances Billinge, is moving to another job has been the required trigger.

The council believes that it would be in the best interest of all the pupils for the two schools to be closed and replaced by an all-through primary school.

But Sue Carvey, headteacher at Colebrook Infants, said there were still issues to be resolved.

She said: “The governors and staff of both the infant and junior school are in favour of an all-through primary school, but the view is that we would want all the children under one roof, and that would require a new building.

“At the moment it does not appear that the council has the funds to do that.”

Coun Garry Perkins, lead member for children’s services, spoke about the proposals at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

He said: “I support this proposal to amalgamate the two schools.

“The school is generally supportive of the principle but they do want a sparkling new building.

“I would also support that but the finance is just not there.”

Covingham and Nythe councillor, Phil Young said he was broadly supportive of the plan and was keen for the schools to move forward.

Fellow ward councillor Dale Heenan said: “I can understand the concern – pupils of one school should be in one building and not two, but the money isn’t available.”

Recent school amalgamations at Covingham and Ferndale were also on the same site but different buildings, although the Colebrook schools are a greater distance apart, at 41 metres.