Shock plan to create new 4-18 years school in Hungerford

Education chiefs have been accused of trying to rush through dramatic proposals last night (Thurs) without proper consultation.
Some Hungerford town councillors, in particular, are furious at what they see as a lack of transparency and accountability.
But West Berkshire Council education portfolio holder Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston) has refused calls to defer the matter.
Instead, the council’s executive committee will vote tonight on far-reaching plans to redesignate John O’Gaunt School as an 'all through' school, with an age range of four to 18 years. Hungerford already has a primary school in the town.
Town mayor Martin Crane said: “Despite many opportunities for the district council to alert the town to this proposal via Hungerford Town Council, none were taken up.”
He said that, consequently the project to make “such a dramatic change to our
educational facilities” is being rushed through without any chance for the town to participate
Mr Crane added: “Indeed, the report does not even consider that the town council is a stakeholder. To ignore this forum for public opinion is unwise of West Berkshire Council and may well cause more problems than if there had been a more inclusive consultation.”
Tonight’s meeting will discuss a report resulting from a 12-month study of the options for future educational provision in the West of the district.
As well as redesignating the age range, the proposals include the “reconfiguration” of a £2 million capital investment to accommodate primary provision and to refurbish and redevelop other parts of the school.
Mr Crane claimed the main problem with the school was not the intake from the primary school but the ability to provide a wide scope of subjects for the sixth form.
He added: “It’s not evident to me how the inclusion of the primary school at the John O’Gaunt School site can suddenly help that problem.”
Mrs Neill said: “The aim of the plan is to ensure the longer term financial viability of the school and also to ensure that sufficient primary places are pro-actively being generated to meet the forecast demand.
“We will be consulting locally and working closely with other schools in the town to create a positive, innovative plan, which, if approved, could commence from September 2015 and would provide capital investment in John O'Gaunt and the provision of additional primary places in Hungerford.”
Headteacher at John O'Gaunt School, Sarah Brinkley, said: "It is clear there is a need for primary places in Hungerford. It is also clear that there is huge potential for us to work with Hungerford Primary to ensure every child has the best possible provision. I look forward discussing the proposals with council members and the local authority, to ensure that we do what is right for the children in our care."