The merger of two Eastbourne schools is to go ahead, months after they began sharing a head.
West Rise Community Infant School and West Rise Junior School, which also share a site, will become West Rise Primary School from next May.
The two schools started officially working in partnership after the junior school was rated by Ofsted as requires improvement in 2023.
On Monday, Cllr Bob Standley, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for education, agreed the merger.
As part of the proposals the council will also change the joint school’s age range to two – 11, allowing it to take on the management of West Rise Nursery.
According to council papers, the merger will not result in any employment changes for staff. The report also notes how the change would mean families of children in Year 2 would no longer have to apply for a place in the junior school from Year 3.
As a result of the decision, West Rise Junior School will formally close — a process the council describes as a technical closure — on April 30.
The following day, West Rise Community Infant School will increase its age range from 4 to 7 to 2 to 11. In doing so, the school would likely change its name to West Rise Primary School, to reflect its amalgamation.
