Learning about merger

4:22pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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AN AILING junior school could be merged with its neighbouring infant school to drag it out of special measures.

Plans to merge Oaklands Junior School and Oaklands Infant School are open to public consultation until June 6.

The junior school in Oaklands Lane, Biggin Hill, entered special measures last May, after an Ofsted inspection concluded most of its operations were inadequate.

An inspection in February last year rated the infant school, in Norheads Lane, Biggin Hill, as outstanding.

David Haslam is the chairman of Biggin Hill Residents' Association, and the former chairman of governors for both schools.

He said: "The infant school continues to perform well, and the idea is with closer management some of this will rub off on the junior school."

Mr Haslam added: "It always seems strange the same children performing so well as infants move down the site to the junior school but the performance seems to drop off.

"No matter how supportive one tried to be, this was always the case.

"This takes the fine management of the infant school and grafts the junior school onto that, and one can hope there will be a positive outcome as a result."

The schools are currently separated by a matter of metres, but are governed separately and have different headteachers.

Were the proposals to receive public support, the merged school would take its first pupils in April next year.

Governors are said to be behind the scheme.

Bromley Council executive for children and young people Councillor Ernest Noad first proposed the scheme at a council meeting in March.

He said: "I would urge everyone with an interest in this important consultation to respond with their views."

Members of the public can take part in the consultation by phone, post, fax, email, or through consultation leaflets which are available from council offices and Biggin Hill Library.

More details are available at bromley.gov.uk

A public meeting will be held to discuss the proposals at the junior school at 7pm on May 20.