Frequently Asked Questions

The number of children in Primary schools over the last few years is relatively stable with it going up and then down year on year. These are figures for Bury St Edmunds.

Speakers have informed consultation meetings that two new Primary schools are planned to cope with future growth in some parts of the town. There is a surplus of around 70 places in Year 5 should the proposals go ahead.

Suffolk County Council will take responsibility for ensuring processes are followed as normal for school transport and we have ensured they know about the consultation specifically.

Ideally we would like to hold discussions with parents at their child's school. This will help us manage numbers. However of course we want to hear parents' views so if you cannot attend the date for your school then you are welcome to attend one of the other parent meetings.

We will draw on the experience of this from the previous school changes. We would aim to draw upon best practice to ensure staff moving phases are appropriately trained for the phase they move to.

This consultation is to gather views on changes to admission criteria and on school closure. However, the key reason is viability based on pupil numbers and therefore available finance to run schools effectively and sustainably.

Support staff would be involved in the process in the same way as teaching staff.

The number attending the school has changed over the past few years, from a peak of 275 a few years ago. The planned admission number has been set to 220.

The Trust is a public body accountable for public money. This does charge us with ensuring we can run the services we need efficiently and prudently.

Financial viability is one major factor here in the decision making process. The difficult facts is that schools must have enough pupils to allow them to run.

We appreciate change is unsettling for some and seen as a challenge to be met for others. Pupils would be led through this change carefully by the school staff they know and trust taking care of their wellbeing and supporting them.

In August 2023 it is proposed that the middle schools will close. Pupils from Horringer Year 6 and 7 would move into Year 7 and 8 in September 2023 at the Westley site and join their Year 7 & 8. Under the proposals, it is considered that this would  be a part of County Upper School.

We are aware of particular groups of pupils with additional needs. Current schools have experience of meeting those needs and so this information would be invaluable during transfer and as we plan for it. This is the case now at transfer time.

Transition does cause stress for pupils in varying degrees. Doing the transfer once is generally seen as a less interrupted education.

This consultation is to listen to the views of the community. No decisions have been taken other than the need to present a scenario outlined in the consultation document for people to comment upon if, on balance, the decision to close needs to be taken.

We are glad when our public buildings are used for community use and support. We are consulting these bodies as part of the formal consultation to hear their views.