Merger of two special schools in Warwick to go ahead - against wishes of some of parents and staff

Two special schools in Warwick are to merge to meet a major demand for places over the next to years.

But the decision, which was agreed by members of Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet at a virtual meeting held this week, has gone against the wishes of parents and staff of the schools - Round Oak and Ridgeway.

The move will allow children to stay at the same school - which will be split over the two sites which are just two miles apart - until reaching 16 rather than having to make a transition from primary to secondary.

Cllr Colin Hayfield (Con Coleshill South and Arley), portfolio holder for education and learning, told fellow councillors: “This has been brought about by the need to create quite considerable capacity for children with special educational needs in the Warwick area.

"It is suggested that we combine together Ridgeway and Round Oak Secondary. Ridgeway does not have room to expand but Round Oak does.

“There has been consultation but with not a great response with most people concerned with what the name of the new school would be.”

A report ahead of the meeting explained that data showed that in the Warwick/Leamington (Central) area of Warwickshire, an additional 78 special school places will be required by the 2022/23 academic year.

And it also outlined the responses from parents and teachers during the consultation period when 46 per cent were against the merger with just 30 per cent in favour and the remainder having a neutral stance.

Many parents of children at Round Oak said they were against calling the new combined school Ridgeway as that was associated with the primary school and that it also suggested a takeover rather than a merger.

A public consultation brought just ten responses but 80 per cent of those were in favour.

Cllr Hayfield added: “School consultations rarely generate huge numbers. I wouldn’t say that this was particularly low but compared to others across the organisation it does appear to be.

"The responses are mixed and most of the excitement was around the school name and I think we will have to look at what the name of the school might be.”

Both Cllr Helen Adkins (Lab Leamington Willes) and Cllr Richard Chattaway (Lab Bedworth Central) questioned the procedure for appointing the new head teacher but chief executive Monica Fogarty explained that such matters should not be discussed at a cabinet meeting.

The amalgamation was approved and it is hoped the merger will be completed for September.