Have your say on new school changes

Child at primary school

Parents, pupils, staff and governors will have their say on the next round of changes to tackle the surplus of school places in Rochdale borough.

Proposals are being put forward to close Alkrington Moss primary school and to amalgamate Furrow and Langley primaries, all in Middleton.

Head of Schools Service, Sue Brown said, "These proposals are part of an ongoing programme to reduce surplus places. As numbers of pupils have fallen across the borough we have 15% of primary places vacant. We are working to reduce this to around 6%. Falling rolls are not just an issue in Rochdale but across the country. We want to maximise resources available to pupils and any savings will be invested elsewhere in schools."

Following approval from the Council Cabinet, parents, staff and governors will be consulted on the proposals. The final decisions on closures and amalgamations rest with the independent Schools Organisation Committee. If the proposals are accepted Alkrington Moss Primary School would close in August 2007. Rochdale Council hopes the amalgamation of Furrow and Langley Primary Schools - which will mean the establishment of a new school on the Furrow site - would take place in September 2008.

Further discussions are also likely with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford to look at ways to reduce surplus capacity at Catholic primary schools in the borough.

Another proposal set to be approved at the Cabinet is the building of seven new Sure Start Children's Centres across the borough. The new centres will be built at St Peter's RC in Middleton, Moorhouse primary in Milnrow, Littleborough primary school, Castleton Primary, and Meanwood primary and Deeplish primary schools in Rochdale. A further centre should be part of the new LIFT health facility in East Central Rochdale.

The new centres will provide daycare for pre-school children, as well as outreach, health provision, support and other services for families. Parents will also be able to access employment training on the same site.

Ann Tipton, Head of Learners and Young People Service said, "Children's experience in their early years has a major impact on their life chances. The Council's plans to provide seven additional Children's Centres will enhance this experience by ensuring that more children and families, across the borough, have access to them.

"The new facilities will ensure that more and more people in the borough can get the information, advice and services they need to make the most of the opportunities available to them."

"Day-care facilities will allow those parents that want to work the opportunity to do so, and training will be available so that parents can improve their skills. Advice on health care and benefits will also be available so that parents can access all that is available to them. The centres are an exciting development for the Borough and will make a real difference to those who use them."

Since 2001, four primary schools have closed in the borough to be replaced by two new buildings, at Kentmere and Broadfield in Rochdale. Building is underway at Sandbrook, which will replace Queensway and Hill Top primaries, and in Central Heywood where a new school will combine Darnhill, Mossfield and Bullough Moor.

Children's Centres have already been approved to open as part of the new Sandbrook Primary School and the Central Heywood Primary.