Catch up with developments as they happen.

Schools at the heart of the community

45 schools in Wyre Forest will close at the end of the academic year 2006/7 and 30 new schools will open in September 2007.

In place of the existing First, Middle and High Schools, there will be 25 new 4-11 age primary schools and 5 new 11-18 age secondary schools. The only schools that won’t be affected are those which are already primary schools (Bayton Primary, St. Ambrose Primary and St. Wulstans Primary).

The changes taking place are, however, about more than simply improving and modernising the district’s education system. We want to use the changes as an opportunity to boost the quality of life in general not only for children but also for their parents, their grandparents and everyone else living in the area.

We believe that education isn’t just for children. There is growing evidence that the people who get the most out of life are those who never stop learning and this is something we want to develop further in Wyre Forest.

As part of the Wyre Forest Schools Review we want to foster the growth of local community schools and other organisations that will provide a wide range of in and out of school activities for both children and their families. We want to encourage all members of the community to take advantage of adult learning schemes through which they can improve their own and their children’s lives by improving their knowledge, skills and learning.

We also want to support parents by ensuring that we maintain and develop the child care and nursery schemes available across the area and, as part of this, we will be considering how we can develop up to four new Children’s Centres in Wyre Forest as well as improving youth and community facilities.

We know that there is a lot of this excellent community-based and extended school activity already happening in schools in Wyre Forest and we want to make sure that this is taken forward into the new schools. We also want to help the new schools build and develop the services they offer. In order to do this, we will be looking to work with a wide range of other agencies such as Social Services, the Youth Service, the police, Wyre Forest District Council, the Health Service, Kidderminster College, and the private and voluntary sectors.

Can you help?

Do you have any suggestions for the type of services and activities you would like to see developed in the new schools?

Do you work for an organisation or agency that might want to work with us to develop activities and services in schools?

If so, contact us now….