We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to keep Paddocks Primary School Newmarket Open.”
Details of Petition:
“Suffolk Council planning on closing Paddocks School as part of 3 tier to 2 tier system. Paddocks is a successful school, it is fully subscribed, has an early years of excellence, high standards of teaching. Great Ofsted results.This is a public consultation process, the public have not shown a preference for this move so where has it come from? Can they do this?.Please vote to save a fantastic school with a unique teaching environment.Every child matters at this school, this must count!.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
You have petitioned to prevent the closure of Paddocks Primary School, Newmarket.
It may help if we first explain about school place planning. This is the statutory responsibility of the local authority and each local authority has a responsibility to ensure there are sufficient school places to meet the needs of their population and to review the position regularly. Where there are high levels of surplus places, this can represent a poor use of resources and we expect local authorities to take action to remove these, balancing carefully the tensions between cost effectiveness, parental choice and securing high standards.
Where the local authority proposes to make changes to local school provision they must publish statutory proposals which are then decided under local decision making arrangements. Ministers have no direct role in the process. The process for making changes to existing schools involves five statutory stages: Consultation (with all interested parties); Publication (in a local newspaper, at the entrance to the school and in a conspicuous place in the area served by the school); Representations (allowing for comments and objections to be submitted); Decision (normally by the local authority); and Implementation (where the proposal is approved).
In their role as decision maker the law requires the local authority (or where appropriate the schools adjudicator) to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State when taking a decision on proposals. The guidance makes it clear that all cases must be considered on their individual merits taking into account the competing arguments. The guidance also sets out a range of factors which must be considered which includes: the impact on local standards and diversity; the need for school places in the area; the views of interested parties; cost effectiveness etc. More information on the decision making arrangements and guidance is available on the School Organisation Website at www.dcsf.gov.uk/schoolorg
We understand that consultation on the schools in group 2, including a proposal to merge the Paddocks and Houldsworth Valley primary schools, finished on 15 December. We also understand that Suffolk local authority’s Cabinet is due to consider the findings in February and will then decide how to proceed further. If following their consideration of the comments received, the local authority decide to publish statutory notices, you would have a further opportunity to submit comments during the representation period. The decision maker must consider the views of those affected by the proposals when reaching a decision on whether or not to approve proposals.
We do recognise that proposals to change local school provision can be upsetting and often unsettling for those involved, but we hope this response is helpful in explaining the process and how decisions are reached.
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