To ask the Cabinet Member to approve the statutory proposal published by Wiltshire Council on 20 January 2022. The notice proposed the enlargement of Mere School to provide a 1.5 Form of Entry (1.5FE), 315 place primary school. It is proposed to permanently increase the Published Admission Number (PAN) from 1 September 2022 when an increase of 15 additional pupils will be admitted into the Reception Year. Up to 45 Reception age pupils will be admitted in each subsequent year.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 09/03/2022
Decision due: 17 Mar 2022 by Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills
Lead member: Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education, and Skills laura.mayes@wiltshire.gov.uk
Department: Education & Skills
Contact: Clara Davies, email: clara.davies@wiltshire.gov.uk, tel: 01225 713872.
Consultation process
Wiltshire Council widely consulted on the proposal to expand Mere School to provide 1.5 forms of entry (315 places). Consultation with a range of stakeholders took place between 1 November 2021 and 29 November 2021 and preceded publication of the statutory proposals on 20 January 2022. The Public Notice period of four weeks ended on 17 February 2022.
No objections were received during the above consultation periods. Mere Town Council confirmed their support of the proposal to expand Mere School and hoped that the increased car parking and drop off zones would succeed in addressing local highway issues. Two local residents also wrote in support of the proposals, one recognised the need for the additional places to meet local population growth. The other supported the proposal but also raised issues regarding the condition and road markings on local roads which have been passed to the highways service.