Schools Adjudicator decision on Middleton primary schools

The Schools Adjudicator has announced his decision on proposals to close Alkrington Moss primary school, and to amalgamate Furrow and Langley primary schools on the Furrow site.

The adjudicator's decision is to uphold the proposals, which means that these changes will take place next year in Alkrington and in 2008 in Langley.  In the case of Alkrington Moss, closure is subject to planning consent being obtained for expansion of Alkrington Primary School.

Executive Director Terry Piggott said: quot;We are pleased that the Adjudicator has supported our proposals to reduce the number of surplus primary school places in Middleton. We understand that parents, staff and governors will be concerned to avoid any upheaval. We will work with them throughout the process to keep disruption to a minimum."

No-one likes to close schools that many local people will have a strong emotional attachment to, but this process is necessary to get the best use of resources in all our schools."

Under the proposals, Alkrington Moss primary school will close in July 2007 (subject to planning consents), Furrow and Langley primaries will close in July 2008, and a new school will open on the Furrow site in September 2008.

The proposals resulted from consultation on how primary schools across the borough are organised, a process that began in 2002.

The School Organisation Committee was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the proposals to close Alkrington Moss and amalgamate Furrow and Langley at its meeting on Monday 5 June.

Where the SOC is unable to reach a unanimous decision, proposals must be referred to the Adjudicator for a final decision.

Each Local Education Authority area has a School Organisation Committee with members from five groups: elected members of the local authority, schools (including governors and head teachers), the Learning amp; Skills Council (which oversees education for 16 to 19-year-olds), and the Roman Catholic and Church of England Dioceses.

Each group has a single vote. Groups may vote for or against proposals or may abstain. All votes cast must be either for or against a proposal for a decision to be valid. If the vote is not unanimous, the proposal is referred to an independent body, the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, for a final decision.

Commenting on the decision of the School's Adjudicator on the future of Alkington Moss Primary School, Rochdale Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families,Councillor David Clayton, said: "I am shocked and disappointed at this decision, I wrote to the School's Adjudicator citing the case for the school to remain open.  I hope that parents of pupils, school governors and anyone connected with Alkrington Moss recognise that I did my very best to save the school.  The whole process has been one of complete frustration - I came into this job in May, but the proposal to close the school came on 23 March, under the previous administration."

The Office of the School Adjudicator was established to make decisions on school organisation proposals where local School Organisation Committees are unable to reach a unanimous decision. Adjudicators are independent of the Council and the Department for Education amp; Skills (DfES).

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.

Copies of the determination reached by the Adjudicator can be obtained from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. It can also be found on the Schools Adjudicator web site www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk