Statutory Notice for proposed model for the Biggleswade cluster 2024

Start date

Monday, 31 October 2022

End date

Wednesday, 7 December 2022

Information

Notice is given in accordance with:

Section 19 (1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and 2013 regulations and the statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers ‘Making significant changes (‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools, October 2018
and, under Section 84 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the statutory guidance in the School Admissions Code, September 2021

that Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ intends to make a significant change (prescribed alteration) to schools within the Biggleswade area from September 2024.

The proposals in this document are part of a wide reorganisation including maintained schools and planned changes to academies as set out below. This also includes related proposed changes to some admissions arrangements as a consequence of the reorganisation of schools in Biggleswade that are also included within this document. The intention is to ensure any admission arrangements in Biggleswade are consulted on and can inform the determination of the annual admissions consultation.

Linked proposals across the Biggleswade cluster
School	Current size	Current age range	Proposed size	Proposed age range
Dunton CofE VC Lower School	15 PAN (75 places)	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	30 PAN 120 places	Year 3 to year 6 (age 8 to 11) Becoming a junior school
Wrestlingworth CofE VC Lower School	13 PAN (65 places)	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	30 PAN 90 places	Reception to year 2 (age 4 to 7) Becoming an infant school
St Andrews CofE VC Lower School (East and West Site)	180 PAN (900 places)	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	120 PAN (840 places)	Reception to year 6 (age 4 to 11)
Sutton CofE VA Lower School	15 PAN (75 places)	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	15 PAN (105 places)	Reception to year 6 (age 4 to 11)
Edward Peake CofE VC Middle School	210 PAN (840 places)	Year 5 to year 8 (age 10 to 13)	180 PAN (900 places)	Year 7 to year 11 (age 11 to 16)

The following schools are academies and the proposal will be considered in parallel by the regional director. However, the proposals are included in this notice for information.

Academies affected by the proposal
School	Current size	Current age range	Proposed size	Proposed age range
Biggleswade Academy Lower and Middle	Lower PAN 90 Middle PAN 140 (450 + 560 pupils)	Reception to year 8 (age 4 to 13)	Primary PAN 120 (840 pupils)	Reception to year 6 (age 4 to 11)
Caldecote CofE Lower Academy	Lower PAN 24 (120 pupils	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	Primary PAN 15 (105 pupils)	Reception to year 6 (age 4 to 11)
Lawnside Lower Academy	Lower PAN 60 (300 pupils)	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	Primary PAN 60 (420 pupils)	Reception to year 6 (age 4 to 11)
Northill CofE Lower Academy	Lower PAN 15 (75 pupils)	Reception to year 4 (age 4 to 9)	Primary PAN 15 (105 pupils)	Reception to year 6 (age 4 to 11)
Stratton Upper Academy	Upper 330 (990 pupils)	Year 9 to year 13 (age 14 to 18)	PAN 240 (1200 pupils) starting with a PAN of 180 from September 2024 with the capacity to expand linked to additional pupils. (Plus the retention of existing sixth form)	Year 7 to year 13 (age 11 to 18)

This notice is an extract from the complete statutory proposal. A copy of the complete statutory proposal can be obtained from:

Information Manager
Central Bedfordshire Council
Room DC2
Watling House
High Street North
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU6 1LF

Within five weeks from the date of publication of this proposal any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by using the online response facility or by sending them to:

Freepost RSJS GBBZ SRZT (no stamp required)
SFF Biggleswade Cluster Statutory Notice
Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Shefford
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ

Signed: Sarah-Jane Smedmor, Director of Children’s Services, Central Bedfordshire Council
Publication date: 31 October 2022