News-Proposal to amalgamate two County Durham schools

Our Cabinet will hear that amalgamating Horndale County Infant and Nursery School and St Francis Church of England (C of E) Aided Junior School in Newton Aycliffe would help to sustain both schools by ensuring sufficient pupil numbers.

St Francis C of E Junior School, like many other primary schools in the town, currently has surplus spaces. Horndale's numbers, meanwhile, have been declining in recent years, resulting in funding challenges. A shortfall in the last financial year was covered by a Department for Education School Deficit Grant, but this is a one-off payment and cannot be relied upon to balance the school's budget in the future.

Both schools were rated Good in their latest Ofsted reports and are located less than 20 metres apart from each other, with a shared access road and car park. Plans to combine the schools have been widely supported by staff, governors and parents.

Strong links

Cllr Ted Henderson, our Cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "Our priority is to provide all County Durham children with the very best start to their education, and this aim is at the heart of the proposal. Pupil numbers are falling at Horndale County Infant and Nursery School, and even when considering planned housing developments, this trend is set to continue, resulting in further financial pressures.

"Horndale and St Francis schools already enjoy strong links. By amalgamating them, we can relieve financial pressure and allow both schools to build upon the excellent work already underway and create even more opportunities for the children."

Positive response

The proposal would see the schools amalgamated and the creation of newly named C of E primary school for children aged three to 11 from September 2025. A public consultation was carried out in September and October this year. This included meetings with staff and governors and an event for parents and the wider community to find out more and ask questions. Ninety per cent of those who took part in the consultation agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal and six per cent neither agreed nor disagreed.

After considering these responses, a statutory notice to amalgamate the two schools was published on Monday 4 November following which people had four weeks to express objections or support. We received no further representations during this time.

Cabinet will be asked to approve the proposals when it meets at County Hall on Wednesday 15 January.