Decision details

Leeds City Council is proposing to change the age range of Rothwell Primary School from 3-11 years to 4-11 years and permanently close the nursery at the school. This proposal follows a temporary closure of the nursery from September 2022.

Further to Minute No. 36, 20^th September 2023, the Director of Children and Families submitted a report which presented the outcome of a statutory notice published on 6th October 2023 in respect of a proposal to change the age range of Rothwell Primary School from 3-11 years to 4-11 years and to permanently close the school nursery with effect from 1^st January 2024. The report sought a final decision from the Board in respect of this proposal.

Members supported the proposals within the submitted report.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the outcome of the statutory notice period, as detailed within the submitted report, be noted;

(b)  That the recommendation to change the age range at Rothwell Primary School from 3- 11 years to 4-11 years and permanently close the school nursery, with effect from 1 January 2024, be approved;

(c)  That approval be given for the decisions from this report to be exempted from the Call-In process, for the reasons as set out in paragraph 29 of the submitted report;

(d)  That it be noted that the responsible officer for the implementation of such matters is the Head of Learning Systems.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process by the decision taker if it is considered that the matter is urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (c) above, and for the reasons as set out within section 29 of the submitted report)

The changes proposed form prescribed alterations under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and are aligned with the statutory process set out in the Department for Education’s guidance document, ‘Making significant changes (prescribed alterations) to maintained schools’ (January 2023).

The Statutory notice period will run from 6th October to 3rd November 2023.

Parents/carers, staff, headteacher and governors of Rothwell Primary School, local early years providers, local primary schools including their parents/carers, local ward members, local MP and other stakeholders have been informed about the consultation.