Issue details

To seek approvalon the proposal to amalgamate Loose Infant School and Loose Junior School, Maidstone, by closing the current Infant and Junior Schools and establishing a three form entry, single community primary school for children aged 4 to 11 years.

a.          Capital

The proposals can be implemented without the need for significant capital expenditure as the new primary school could operate as an all-through school on the existing Infant and Junior school sites.

b.          Revenue

As a result of an amalgamation the two predecessor schools will become one school and consequently this would result in the removal of one of the lump sum funding allocations (£120,000).  The amalgamated school would continue to be funded at 100% of the two lump sums for the remainder of the 2014/15 financial year from September 2014 to March 2015. The School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2013 provide funding protection for amalgamating schools for the first academic year. Therefore, it is proposed that protection will be provided on the lump sums at 85% from April 2015 to March 2016. (2 x £120,000 x 85% = £204,000). From April 2016 the amalgamated primary school would receive one lump sum, currently £120,000.

c.          Human

It is proposed that all teachers and support staff employed at Loose Infant School and Loose Junior School (at the time of the proposed amalgamation) will transfer to the primary school.