Council consults on plans to merge Selby high schools

County education bosses have launched a consultation on proposals which would see Brayton and Selby High schools merged into one.

Discussions have been taking place for some time about Brayton High School entering into partnership arrangements with other providers, prompted by the current performance and financial position at the school.

The debate over recent months has focused on exploring the options for the necessary change and in particular who the school should partner with and what form that partnership should take.

Exploratory discussions about joining a multi academy trust did not, despite initial optimism, lead to proposals which met the current timescale and improvement needs of the school.

Earlier discussions about the potential for an amalgamation between Brayton High School and Selby High School were positively revisited last term. Parents, staff and the parents of potential new starters were notified before Christmas of these discussions.

‘Brayton High School is not in a position as a single school in the long term to provide the improvements in education outcomes young people deserve” said County Councillor. Arthur Barker, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Schools. “It is considered that educational outcomes for all would be significantly enhanced by the capacity and greater resilience that would be generated by this step. This proposal would see secondary education continuing to be provided on the Brayton campus, building on the best of both current schools.’

Consultation on this proposal runs for six weeks from January 15 for a period of six weeks with opportunities for full and open discussion with parents and staff.

This will include meetings for parents and other stakeholders at 6.30pm on Monday 25 January at Selby High School and 6.30pm on Tuesday 26 January at Brayton High School.

The detail of how the enlarged school would operate across the two sites would be the subject of careful planning by the two schools with the county council.

Following consultation, a final decision will be taken on the proposal by the County Council in May. If agreed the change would take effect from September 2016.

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