Two North Yorkshire village primary schools plan merger

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 08:32 · Archive

Snape Community Primary School and Thornton Watlass Church of England Primary School would merge into one school from April 2027 under plans drawn up by their shared governing board. Younger pupils would be taught at Snape and older children at Thornton Watlass, with children normally moving between sites at the start of year three.

The two schools currently operate as a federation, sharing leadership and teaching arrangements to cope with falling pupil numbers. However, their current arrangement involves some children being taught at a school other than the one that they are officially registered at. Legal advice received by North Yorkshire Council in summer 2024 concluded this arrangement did not comply with legislation governing school admissions and pupil registration.

Under the proposals, Snape Community Primary School would technically close, with Thornton Watlass Church of England Primary School expanding to operate across both sites. Nursery, reception and key stage one children would be educated at Snape, while pupils in years three to six would attend Thornton Watlass. The merged school would retain its Church of England designation, subject to diocesan approval, and the two existing catchment areas would be combined. The governing board considered four alternative options, including continuing as separate schools and closing one site entirely, before recommending the merger.

How it is being reported

• Two North Yorkshire village primary schools could merge in bid to secure their futureTwo village primary schools could be merged into a single school operating across both sites under a plan to secure their future and keep them legal.Darlington & Stockton Times · 22 Oct, 08:00
• Two North Yorkshire village primary schools could merge in bid to secure their futureTwo village primary schools could be merged into a single school operating across both sites under a plan to secure their future and keep them legal.The Northern Echo · 22 Oct, 08:00

In this story: Snape Community Primary School · Thornton Watlass Church of England Primary School · North Yorkshire Council · North Yorkshire

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