Have your say on future of village schools near Milton Keynes

Central Bedfordshire Council has moved to the next stage of the Schools for the Future programme in Woburn Sands and the surrounding villages, known as the Fulbrook pyramid.

The publication of statutory notices follows a 12-week public consultation, which attracted more than 590 responses between January and April this year.

On the back of this, the council has developed a revised plan which will be split into two phases.

The first phase focuses on Aspley Guise and Swallowfield lower schools and Fulbrook Middle School.

There will be a further public consultation for the second phase, regarding a proposal for Husborne Crawley, Ridgmont and Woburn Lower Schools to be on one new site, once a proposed site for the school is known.

The revised plan for the first phase is:

Aspley Guise Lower School

a change of age range from 5-9 to 5-11, from lower to primary, from 2022

an increase to the published admission number from 27 to 30, with 1 form of entry

an expansion of the school premises

Swallowfield Lower School

a change of age range from 2-9 to 2-11, from lower to primary, from 2022

the published admission number to remain at 60, with 2 forms of entry

an expansion of the school premises

Fulbrook Middle School

a change of age range to become an extended secondary school, with 4 forms of entry, aged 9-16 (Yrs 5-11) in 2022.

a change from an extended secondary to a secondary school, aged 11-16 (Yrs 7-11) in 2024, by which time all of the lower schools within the Woburn Sands area will have changed to primary schools

Cllr Sue Clark, Central Bedfordshire Council executive member for families, education and children, said: “Both phases will see schools in the area change to a two-tier system, which will align with the rest of the country and help improve educational attainment, recruitment and retention of the teaching workforce.

“Residents can now have another say, over the next four weeks.”

Cllr John Baker, Independent, Aspley & Woburn, said: "It is great news that the council has finally recognised the importance of Fulbrook Middle School and its role in the local community. I worked with local residents and the school to fight for the conversion of Fulbrook to a secondary school, and am delighted that we are now moving in that direction."

Responses should be submitted by October 8. The council will consider the feedback at its executive committee meeting in December.

To have your say on the plans visit here