Department for Education Wades into Bristol Schools Amalgamation Proposal

Bristol Schools’ Amalgamation Delay:

The Department for Education (DfE) has stepped into a primary school amalgamation consultation, insisting that further legal advice is taken by both the school and Local Authority (LA) before merging to form a new school.

St George Church of England Primary School and St. Michael’s on the Mount C of E (VC) Primary School, which are already federated, have been consulting with parents about merging to form one single intake primary school.

The merger would see the St George school close, with pupils relocated to the St. Michael’s site forming a new school with a new identity.

Plans have now been scuppered by a challenge from the DfE, which has recommended that the LA take further legal advice on the proposed opening of a new Voluntary Controlled School.

The co-chairs of both schools’ governing body – Mary Benton and Janet Bremner – have made it clear that this does not mean St George will remain open, writing: ‘Neither school can continue as they are. With significantly reduced numbers at both schools the budget for 20/21 is also reduced and decisions will need to be made as to how to manage that reduced budget.’

They warn that this will have an ‘impact’ on both schools in September.

The hold-up has been caused by the LA’s proposal to open a new Voluntary Controlled (VC) Local Authority
maintained school. New schools have to be opened as academies or free schools – although there is interest from Cathedral Schools’ Trust in bringing the amalgamated pair into their fold.

The delay has meant that the proposal to amalgamate was unable to proceed to the March 2020 Cabinet meeting at Bristol City Council. It was also have a knock-on effect on the timescale in place to open an amalgamated school.’

Proposals for legal changes to the school will now not take place until at January 2021 at the earliest.

In a letter to parents and carers on Tuesday 25 February 2020, Head of Service for Learning City Richard Hanks wrote: ‘As you will be aware, the recent consultation on the future of St Michael’s and St George’s schools was planned to conclude with consideration by Full Cabinet at Bristol City Council on 3 March 2020. However, as part of the statutory process, the Department for Education has recommended that the Local Authority take further legal advice on the proposed opening of a new Voluntary Controlled school. It is necessary to pause the process until
the legal position has been clarified. The proposals will not therefore be considered by Cabinet on 3 March.

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