Stowmarket: Plans To Close Middle Schools Approved

26 February 2013, 13:30 | Updated: 26 February 2013, 13:57

Suffolk County Council has voted to change schools in Stowmarket and Stowupland to a two tier system, getting rid of Middle Schools.

The vote took place this lunchtime in the Cabinet Meeting.

It comes after months of consultations with parents and schools.  It will mean three Middle Schools in the area will shut from 2015.  They are Needham Market Middle, Stowmarket Middle and Bacton Community Middle.  They will all stop accepting new pupils from September 2014.

Stowmarket and Stowupland's First Schools will become Primary Schools and the High Schools will become Secondary Schools each expanding the age groups they teach.

The schools affected are:
Stowmarket:
Abbot’s Hall CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Bosmere CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Cedars Park CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Chilton CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Combs Ford CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Great Finborough CEVCP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Ringshall School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Wood Ley CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Combs Middle School to close. Site to be made available for an additional primary school.
Needham Market Middle School to close.
Stowmarket Middle School to close.
Stowmarket High School to increase its age range to 11 - 18 years.

Stowupland:
Bacton CP School to increase its age range to 4 - 11 years
Crawfords CEVCP School  to increase its age range 4 - 11 years
Mendlesham CP School to increase its age range to 4 -11 years
Old Newton CEVCP School to increase its age range 4 - 11 years
The Freeman CP School to increase its age range 4 - 11 years
Bacton Community Middle School to close. Future of the site will be subject to further consultation.
Stowupland High School to increase its age range to 11 - 18 years.