Last updated 20:18, Thursday, 16 October 2008

A MAJOR shake-up of schools in West Cumbria has emerged as an option put forward in county council papers.

REPORT: Moira Swann

A potential merger of Workington’s Stainburn School and Southfield Technology College to form a new academy is included in options drawn up by children’s services chief Moira Swann.

Other options drawn up could see a complete rebuild of Netherhall School in Maryport and Solway Community School in Silloth.

There’s also an idea that Solway School and Beacon Hill, Aspatria, could become a federated school on two sites, possibly to include Netherhall too.

The report does not mention Cockermouth or Keswick schools, which have been successful in attracting pupils.

The options have emerged as the council bids for up to £180m for the county under a Government school building programme.

Ms Swann’s report says: “Schools in West Cumbria have not benefited from large amounts of capital investment over recent years.

“The consequence of this lack of investment means that most of the school estate is in need of attention.

“In particular, many of the school buildings are out of date and not conducive to current curriculum delivery or practices in teaching and learning.”

“It is clear that improvements in the school environments would impact very positively on student perfor-mance.”

The report outlines difficulties facing each school. In Workington, for example, there is said to be a “pressing need” for investment in the two community schools.

The report says: “There is a clear need for Stainburn and Southfield Technology College to become one new school and the possibility of an academy solution is one that may be considered a favourable option.”

West Cumbria’s first academy, in Egremont, opened in September to replace Wyndham and Ehenside schools. There are two more in Carlisle.

The report predicts that the number of pupils at Netherhall School will fall from 893 to 671 by 2018 and recommends that it is rebuilt with a maximum capacity of 750.

It says: “The condition of the building is very poor indeed and the highest priority in the area for a single school complete rebuild.”

Beacon Hill School is projected to have only 225 pupils by 2018, which, the report argues, would make it “unsustainable as a stand-alone school”.

But there is no suggestion that it would close or leave Aspatria without a secondary school.

Instead, Beacon Hill would function as a federated school with Solway Community School, which would be rebuilt, perhaps incorporating primary school classrooms.

The report adds: “The next steps are to continue discussions and consultations with the schools and communities concerned to seek their approval and buy-in of the proposals.”

Workington heads Lynda Dalkin, of Southfield, and Chris McGrath, of Stainburn, welcomed the chance to discuss what they said could be the “most exciting proposals for education in West Cumbria ever”.

David Sibbit, headteacher at Netherhall, welcomed proposals to rebuild his school. But Workington MP Tony Cunningham dismissed claims there would be an academy in Workington.