A decision on the future of Cragg Vale Junior and Infant School is a step closer as further consultation takes place with parents, staff, governors and the local community.
Cragg Vale Junior and Infant School is a small rural school with an average intake of less than ten pupils each year. The building is in a poor condition and the ongoing maintenance and running costs are unsustainable for a small school, at a time when school maintenance funding has been reduced. This means keeping the school on the same site is no longer an option.
To improve facilities, but maintain the excellent standard of education currently attained by the school, Calderdale Council recently held a pre-consultation asking for people’s views on a number of options proposed for the future of Cragg Vale Junior and Infant School.
The views from this consultation and analysis of responses were submitted to the Council’s Cabinet, who agreed that the best all round solution for the school was for it to amalgamate with nearby Calder High School and create an all-through school, with children attending from 4 to 18 years.
The proposal would see the current sixth form centre being used for the pupils from Cragg Vale with current Calder High sixth formers moving to a new dedicated sixth form block on site. This would provide first class accommodation for Cragg Vale pupils in a relatively short timescale, with both groups of young people benefitting from modern facilities.
Consequently a further six week consultation will now be held on this proposal, with respondents being asked for their comments and whether or not they support this option. The consultation is now open and forms can be accessed at www.calderdale.gov.uk by searching for Cragg Vale consultation.
Completed forms can be emailed to cyps.admissions@calderdale.gov.uk or posted to Commissioning Officer – Access and School Planning, Ground floor, Northgate House, Halifax, HX1 1UN. Paper consultation forms will also be available at both meetings.
There are also two general consultation meetings which anyone can attend. These will be held at Calder High School in the Ted Hughes Theatre on Wednesday 9 November from 6-7pm and Wednesday 23 November from 6-7pm.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Megan Swift, said:
“Although Cragg Vale provides a good standard of education for pupils, entry numbers are declining at the school and the building is in a poor condition.
“We recently looked at a number of options for the future of this site and took on board comments from the pre-consultation. The best option for all concerned seemed to be combining Cragg Vale Junior and Infant School with Calder High School and creating a through-school.
“We would like to hear the views of parents, staff, governors and anyone in the local community about this option and I’d encourage as many people as possible to have their say on these proposals.
“The results of this consultation will then be presented to Cabinet in December, with a final decision being made in the new year.”