News

Have your say on Aldershot school merger plans

By Pete Castle
September 15, 2011

CAMPAIGNERS are asking people in Aldershot to have their say on a plan to merge two schools.

Hampshire County Council is asking people for their thoughts on its plan to close West End Infant School in York Road and Beaumont Junior School in Alexandra Road at the end of next year.

If the plans get the go-ahead, both schools would be replaced with a single new, larger primary school, likely to be built on the Beaumont site, with the West End Infant building and grounds sold off to developers to pay for the changes.

But other options available to the council include creating a 'federation' - which would see each school stay separate but share a governing body and head teacher - or making other changes to the governors.

Speaking at a meeting on September 13, West End Infant School head teacher Chris Jenkin asked people to make their thoughts known before it is too late.

"Please, please make your voice heard. West End is worth saving," she said.

The consultation closes on October 5, before a final decision is made later in the year.

To take part in the consultation, click here for an online feedback form or visit here for more information.

Alternatively visit the drop-in sessions at Beaumont Junior School on Monday September 26 (8.30am to 10.30am) and Wednesday September 28 (3.30pm to 5.30pm), and at West End Infant School on Friday September 16 (8.30am to 10.30am), Monday September 26 (3.30pm to 5.30pm), and Wednesday September 28 (8.30am to 10.30am).

You can also email Martin Shefferd at martin.shefferd@hants.gov.uk or write to him c/o Children's Services, Hampshire County Council, EII Court East, Winchester SO23 8UJ.

See the Aldershot News & Mail, September 16 edition (out now), for a full report from Tuesday's meeting.

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SAVE WEST END - It should be that where a listed building has rights, that they should do something similar of that for issues like these whereby this School has been running for so long, that it should not be so easy to close it with out good reason or extreme circumstances, there is no problems with the School or the running of it. Leave it alone. It should not be aloud that such people like the councils can make such a decision when they have no idea about the history or the community. I have great confidence that the % against this is very high but have a sneaky feeling that it wont matter anyway!!!!!!! which is wrong, it is rumoured that the councils will do what they want anyway, well not without a fight!!!!! this is soooo wrong. Creating a federation is a much better idea, it keeps all parties happy.