Phase 1 consultation on whether to merge Chalkwell Hall Infant School and Chalkwell Hall Junior School for September 2021

This consultation is now closed. 

Consultation outcome updated: Tuesday 7th September 2021

The consultation for the amalgamation of Chalkwell Hall Infant School and Chalkwell Hall Junior was conducted virtually as a result of the current pandemic. It consisted of an online survey, a staff and governors virtual meeting and published information through the media. The survey attracted 157 separate responses before the closing date. In addition, Officers held a virtual meeting for staff and governors from both schools on 6th November 2020, which was attended by 27 staff and governors.

The results show that of the 157 respondents, 85 (54.1%) were against an amalgamation, 72 (45.95%) were for. Cabinet took place on Wednesday 2^nd December, where it was agreed that the potential amalgamation would not proceed and the two maintained schools, Chalkwell Hall Infant School and Chalkwell Hall Junior School, be allowed to remain as separate entities. To read more, please see the report to Cabinet and the Cabinet minutes:

• Outcomes of the informal consultation stage one of a potential amalgamation of Chalkwell Hall Infants School and Chalkwell Hall Junior School - 2nd December 2021
• Cabinet Meeting Minutes - 2nd December 2021
• Minutes of People Scrutiny Committee - 7th December 2021
  
  

As the parents of the school will be aware Chalkwell Hall Junior School has a current Headteacher vacancy and interim arrangements are in place. As is usual, when there is an Infant and Junior school on the same site, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is seeking your views on a way forward.

There is the option to remain as two separate schools or to create one Primary School for pupils aged 5-11, by bringing together Chalkwell Hall Infant School and Chalkwell Hall Junior School.

This is the first phase of the process where we are asking you for your initial views. You will see from the attached timeline that there are several steps that we would need to go through before a decision can be made and we will be consulting on each stage of the process.

Statutory guidance sets out what schools and local authorities must do to comply with the law. The following information is provided by the Government to:

• governing bodies
• local authorities
• decision makers

They describe opening, closing, or making school organisation changes to local-authority-maintained schools. They set out how we can make those changes, and the areas where we must follow a statutory process.

This guidance is based on:

• The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013
• The School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) Regulations 2013

The first phase of the consultation closes 13^th November 2020.

To find out more about the schools and why we are considering this, please see the ‘More information about this consultation’ button below next to the survey tab.

To take the survey please click the 'Take Survey' button below.

If you would like to take the survey in a different way e.g. a paper copy or you have a question about the consultation please email: servicesforschools@southend.gov.uk

The survey will close at 5pm on 13th November 2020. 

We will share the views of those who have taken part in the consultation and will respond to questions in our ‘consultation summary’ which will be posted on this page after the consultation closes.

To read about how the Council handles data please visit the Council website.