Hull primary schools merger plan revealed

Cavendish Primary School would merge with neighbouring Gillshill Primary School under the plans

A public consultation has begun into plans to merge two Hull primary schools in response to a drop in pupil numbers.

Horizon Academy Trust is considering joining Cavendish Primary School with neighbouring Gillshill Primary School, both on Cavendish Road, to "strengthen" education standards by "sharing resources and expertise".

A letter sent to parents detailed how the closure of Cavendish and the expansion of Gillshill would result in potential job losses.

In a statement, the trust said: "No final decisions have been made, and the Department for Education will ultimately determine whether the merger will proceed."

In its letter, the trust said both schools, which share the same site, would amalgamate to form a new school - with the suggested name being Cavendish Gillshill Primary School, using the existing buildings but managed by "one headteacher and one local governing body".

"The total number of available spaces will remain unchanged from the combined capacity of the two previous schools," the letter stated.

"All existing children at Cavendish will be offered a place at the new school; Gillshill children will remain on roll."

It also said existing staff would be kept on but there "will not be the need for as many roles".

The trust has not disclosed the number of jobs at risk.

"Unfortunately some staff may be displaced," the letter stated. "This would be kept to a minimum and the trust would carefully manage this, by seeking to redeploy displaced staff in other similar roles across the trust where possible."

'Declining birth rate'

Under the trust's proposals, early years and children up to age seven would be taught in the Gillshill school building while older pupils would be based on the former Cavendish site.

Parents were told the merger would "withstand demographic changes and financial challenges in the future" after the local authority contacted academy trusts across the city following "target deficits in pupil numbers due to the declining birth rate".

"Inevitably finances are always a consideration and savings will be made through efficiencies and economies of scale," stated the letter.

"This will allow the school to reinvest money back into the classroom for the benefit of all pupils."

Horizon Academy Trust told the BBC it was "actively seeking" feedback from the community" to the proposals.

If approved by the government, the merger would begin in September 2025.

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