Schools could merge in Windermere with new 'St Martin and St Mary CoE' created (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Schools could merge in Windermere with new 'St Martin and St Mary CoE' created

3:40pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News By Steven Bell, Senior Reporter

GOVERNORS are pressing ahead with plans to merge two Church of England schools in Windermere.

If the proposals go ahead, St Mary’s CE Nursery and Infant School and Windermere CE Junior School would cease to exist in their own right.

A new school — St Martin and St Mary Church of England Primary School — would open across the two current sites on Prince’s Road on September 1.

All staff would be retained.

The new school would cater for children aged three to 11, with a maximum capacity of 420 and an additional 52 full-time nursery places.

Parents gave their thoughts on the idea in the autumn, with 74 per cent of those who responded to a consultation saying they were in favour of the new school.

The Rev David Wilmot, chairman of governors at St Mary’s CE Nursery and Infant School and also a foundation governor for Windermere CE Junior School, said: “The governors have been pleased with how the consultation has gone so far and encouraged by the warmth of the response from both parents and staff. We look forward to the possibility of providing an even better education for the children in our community.”

Governors from both schools worked closely with the Diocese of Carlisle on proposals to create a single Voluntary Aided Church of England primary school.

The changes also include a proposal to build a new covered link between the existing infants and juniors.

Michael Mill, director of education, children and young people for the Carlisle Diocese, told the Gazette that the amalgamation of the two schools would benefit staff and pupils.

“We are, and will continue to be, fully supportive of the proposals to amalgamate these two schools,” said Mr Mill.

“Both are excellent schools and the plans for amalgamation will provide a firm foundation on which further success can be built on in years to come.”

Copies of the complete proposal are available from both schools and their websites.

Final comments on the proposals can be communicated in writing to Cumbria County Council’s children’s services department.