The Governors of Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary School sought views about the proposal to construct and operate a ten-pupil mainstream autism base. This will enable the school to build on its success as a wholly inclusive school, grow the SEND skills and resources within the school and better meet the needs and secure the futures of vulnerable pupils.

This change was for January 2022. 

Responses to this consultation closed on Sunday 25 April 2021.

Consultation document:

• Mainstream Autism Base at Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary School consultation document (PDF)

Offmore Primary School sought views on consideration of a change of age range from 3 to 11 to 2 to 11. This will enable the school to incorporate the two-year old provision at the school, currently operated under the Community Powers of the Governing Body, into a maintained nursery of the school.

This change was being considered for September 2021.

Consultation document:

• Proposed change of age range at Offmore Primary School consultation document (PDF)

Changes to schools in the Pershore education planning area over several years has led to uncertainty and sustainability concerns across the education planning area.

In September 2019 three first schools in the Pershore area were approved to change to primary schools by the Regional Schools Commissioner along with Pershore High School to create an option for a two-tier system of education for families.

The creation of additional places in years 5, 6 and 7 as a result of the approved changes has resulted in a forecast level of surplus places in these year groups. By 2023 we anticipate that two of the middle schools in the area will be operating at around 50% capacity, which creates significant difficulty to provide key stage 3 (Year 7, ages 10 to 11) curriculum in particular.

Over the last two years, we have seen parents in the Pershore area choosing a Primary and Secondary (two-tier system) education in their school admissions applications, with an increasing percentage choosing to remain at already converted primary schools and a number choosing to transfer from first to primary schools.

This creates a risk to ensuring clear and quality education journeys for pupils.

Ultimately, this transition is being undertaken because we want to ensure:

• every child has a clear and transparent education journey
• schools are supported to deliver good education outcomes in a stable and known education system
• schools are able to deliver a full curriculum and remain sustainable and financially viable

During 2020 to 2021 Worcestershire Children First (WCF) has facilitated engagement with education stakeholders including all schools in the pyramid; Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) CEOs; the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC); and the Diocese to find agreed solutions to manage this risk within the education planning area.

In July 2021 all of the schools’ governing bodies and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) confirmed their agreement / intentions to consult on the proposed change to a two-tier Education Planning area, seek changes of age range (where necessary) and in the instance of the Middle Schools amalgamate with the First Schools.

The transition to a fully two-tier education system in the Pershore education planning area was approved by Cabinet in April 2022, subject to funding being fully secured. For more information please see agenda and minutes

The consultation on changes to schools in the Pershore area has now closed.

The consultation ran from 11 October to 26 November 2021 and provided stakeholders with an opportunity to share views about what is important about age ranges of schools and transitions. Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Children First received a total of 270 responses from stakeholders, including parent carers, school staff, pupils, governing boards, local residents, other local schools and interested stakeholders.

Consultation document:

• Pershore Area Consultation Autumn 2021 (PDF)

Individual school proposals

To learn more about the individual school proposals, please visit each school’s website (linked below)

• Abbey Park First & Middle Schools
• Defford-cum-Besford First School
• Fladbury CE First School
• Pershore High School
• Pinvin CE First and St Nicholas’ CE Middle
• St Barnabas CofE First and Middle School
• Upton Snodsbury CofE First School

Next steps

• stage one: establishing the need for change completed June 2021
• stage two: agreement from Governing Bodies and Multi-Academy Trusts to consult on proposal completed September 2021
• stage three: consultation on proposals  closed 26 November 2021
• stage four: submission of formal proposals during December 2021 to February 2022
• stage five: final decisions due February 2022
• stage six: If approved, implementation of proposals

Worcestershire Children First (WCF) completed a review of the Medical Education Provision and presented this to Worcestershire County Council Cabinet on the 18 March 2021.

View the Cabinet papers for the 18 March 2021

Following public consultation WCF sought approval from Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education, 3 August 2021, to progress the proposed commissioning of the Medical Education Provision within Worcestershire.

WCF is tendering for the provision of education for children who are unable to attend school because of medical needs. The service is required to provide an excellent educational experience, which ensures children and young people make good academic, social, and emotional progress, allows them to work towards and gain appropriate qualifications, and health permitting, to return to school as quickly as possible. The service will also be required to support the Medical Education Pathway through Outreach support, building the capacity of mainstream schools to better meet the needs of children and young people with medical needs.

This new provision will offer an improved infrastructure and educational offer inclusive of facilities, IT, and curriculum options. It would also be registered with Ofsted. In addition, pupil-led funding will follow the child for the time spent away from their school.

The tender for this closed on Thursday 4 November 2021.