Consultation on changes to school system in Pershore launched

The consultation will explore proposals to change age ranges, combine schools and increase pupil numbers at schools in and around the Pershore.
 
Schools have asked Worcestershire County Council to review the age ranges of the schools, so that there is a clear and consistent education pathway, and co-ordinated age range for children attending school in the local education planning area.  

Schools that have already converted to two-tier will not make any further changes.

The consultation runs from 2 September 2024 to noon on 29 September 2024 and provides an opportunity to have a say about what is important about age ranges of schools and transitions from one school to the next.   

Before final decisions are made in November 2024 the results of the consultations will be considered by:

• the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education for Abbey Park First and Middle schools and Fladbury CE First School 
• the Department for Education’s Regions Group for Crowle CE First School, Pinvin CE Academy, St. Barnabas CE First & Middle School and Pershore High School 
• the Governing Bodies of Defford-cum-Besford CE School and Upton Snodsbury CE First School  

Councillor David Chambers, Cabinet Member for Education at Worcestershire County Council said: “We have been actively collaborating with Pershore schools and Academy Trusts to develop a unified and transparent approach to changing age ranges in the school system. Parents, carers, pupils, school staff, and residents are encouraged to have their say on these proposed changes and help shape decisions that prioritise the education needs for current and future generations in the Pershore area.” 
 
Following a direct approach from schools in the Pershore area in Autumn 2020, the local authority has worked closely with schools and the Department for Education (DfE) to evaluate the risks and issues relating to the current organisation of the schools in the education planning area.

Together, the Council and DfE have also worked towards sourcing additional funding to support the expansion of Pershore High School to accommodate additional pupils who would transfer in Year 7 rather than Year 8. 
 
Historically, the education provision in Pershore has tended to follow a three-tier journey, where pupils attend first schools from age 4-9, transfer to middle schools at age 9-12 and then transfer to high school at age 12 to complete their education. 

However, some schools in the Pershore area have already completed the transition from three-tier to two-tier where pupils attend a primary school from age 4-11 with a transfer at age 11 to secondary school.  

For more information and to have your say on the proposals, please visit the Pershore Review pages of the County Council website.