Consultation launched on proposals to build a new primary school in Leominster

Herefordshire Council is consulting with parents, staff, pupils and residents on proposals to build a brand new, contemporary primary school in Leominster.

Funded by money received through the government’s Primary Strategy for Change programme, around £7.8 million has been earmarked for the new school.  The building will replace existing school buildings at Leominster Infant and Leominster Junior schools, some of which are in poor condition and expensive to maintain. 

Although no designs have been drawn up yet, the new school will provide more energy efficient, lower maintenance modern teaching and learning facilities, fit for the 21st century.  It will help teachers, other school staff and governors to continue improving the good standards already being achieved by pupils at the existing schools.

In order to maximise funding and create the best possible facilities for Leominster’s children so that they are prepared with skills and knowledge needed for the 21st century, the council is proposing to amalgamate the two schools.

The proposed amalgamation has been on the cards for some time and governing bodies and head teachers from both schools have been in regular discussions with council officers since lat year.  Leominster is the last town in the county to have a separate infant and junior school, although in other parts of the county, children have enjoyed the enhanced resources and continuity that a single primary school can bring.

Following discussions with both schools, the council has launched a consultation document to seek the views of parents, staff, governors, the local community and other interested stakeholders on the proposals to amalgamate the schools.

Rob Reid, head of access and capital commissioning said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Leominster children to have some of the best up to date education facilities in the country.  The Minster College building is nearly complete and there has been much excitement in the town about the prospect of children being able to learn in a new modern environment. 

“We are hoping that primary school children will be able to enjoy new innovative buildings and equipment too, but we need to amalgamate the two schools for this to happen.

“It is really important that we consult everyone in the town and give people the opportunity to ask questions, so as well as publishing a consultative document, we are organising a number of events and meetings where council officers will be available to talk to parents and the local community.”

Details of all the events, together with a copy of the proposals are available on the council’s web site:http://consult.herefordshire.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/Leominsteramalgamation/consultationHome.

The deadline for consultation feedback is November 9 2009.  The feedback will be considered by the governing bodies of the existing infant and junior schools before a report is submitted to the council’s Cabinet in the new year