Decision details

To report the outcomes of the public consultation on the future organisation of St Matthew's Infant, Church of England (CE), voluntary controlled (VC) school and Borstal Manor Junior, community school.

The Cabinet agreed that further consultation be undertaken on a joint education and recreational/sports proposal based at the new Borstal Playing Field site with a report back to Cabinet to include information on location, community use, access, parking and integrated recreational and sports use.
The Cabinet agreed for an access assessment to be commissioned to inform any necessary planning application.
The Cabinet agreed that the new primary school should become Voluntary Controlled.

Each of the three previously identified sites has significant disadvantages in the light of outcomes from the consultation, and thus further consultation needs to be undertaken on the additional option of a joint education and recreation/sports proposal at the Borstal Playing Field site.Voluntary Controlled status was most strongly supported by respondents. Officers would also support this option because it provides for the continuity of a religious ethos that is clearly important to the community of Borstal.