Fordingbridge junior and infant schools to become federation

The decision to form the Fordingbridge Infant and Junior Schools Federation was made at a joint meeting of both governing boards last week and comes after a consultation with parents, carers, staff and the wider community.

A statement from the chairman of governors of both schools said the response was “overwhelmingly” in favour of becoming a federation.

Melanie Gill, the chairman of Fordingbridge Junior School Governors, and Carol Jackson, the chairman of Fordingbridge Infant School Governors, said: “We are thrilled that parents and staff are so positive about the prospect of federation because governors at both schools believe that this is the way to ensure the best possible provision of education for local children from Year R to Year 6, now and in the future. We can now look forward to exciting times ahead.”

A report on the proposals said becoming a federation would allow the schools to “pool staff” and share resources, which would “improve leadership, teaching and learning”. It said each school would still retain its own budget, identity and character.

The statement issued by the governors said: “Governors of both schools are clear that this is not a proposal to create one school or dispose of any property. Governors believe federation will continue to build upon the benefits already realised during the past few months when the Fordingbridge Junior School head teacher has also been working as interim head teacher at the infant school.”

The governors will start the process of becoming a federation which will include recruiting a new governing body to replace the existing two separate ones. The first job of the new governing body will then recruit the executive headteacher who will lead the two schools.