Stamford-Park-Infant-and-Junior-School-Amalgamation-Survey-Comments

Stamford Park Infant and Junior School Amalgamation – Comments and Responses Following the approval of the Education and Early Years Basic Need and SEND Capital Report, parents requested the opportunity to share their views about the LA’s proposal for Stamford Park Infant and Junior Schools As a result, the LA hosted an informal survey on their website A total of 1,011 informal survey responses were received Of these, 397 respondents provided their name and contact details and/or reasons why they agreed or disagreed with the proposal, referred to as verified responses The remaining 614 respondents did not provide any name, contact details or reasons why they agreed or disagreed with the proposal, referred to as minimal responses Tables to are based on the 397 verified responses Table 1: Summary of responses by category of respondent: Category Parent Local resident School staff Other stakeholder Total Agree No 149 43 15 12 219 % 82% 29% 56% 31% 55% Disagree No % 31 17% 104 70% 12 44% 26 67% 173 44% No Preference No % 1% 1% 0% 3% 1% Total No 182 149 27 39 397 % 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Table 2: 196 of the respondents who agreed with the proposal provided reasons, summarised as follows: Reason for agreeing with proposal to amalgamate in new building Improved facilities that a new build school would provide Improved learning experience and/or pupil journey Improved financial position achieved through economies of scale Centralised leadership team - common ethos and consistent approach Current buildings not fit for purpose and/or in poor state of repair Against academisation More school places on offer in the area to meet increasing demand Reduced class sizes and/or no requirement to vertically group classes Improved SEND provision and transition for SEND pupils Better communication between the two schools More off street parking created to alleviate current parking issues No 120 103 36 32 31 15 13 % 61% 53% 18% 16% 16% 8% 7% 4% 3% 2% 1% Table 3: 119 of the respondents who disagreed with the proposal provided reasons, summarised as follows: Reason for disagreeing with proposal to amalgamate in new building Want to preserve the existing heritage buildings Impact on parking due to increased pupil and staff numbers Impact on traffic due to increased pupil and staff numbers Design and size of the new building, views from residential properties Prefer the current separate education offer including small school ethos Want to preserve the current playing field for environmental reasons Playing field site not big enough to fit a form entry school Negative impact on education provision during building works Don't want disruptions for residents caused by building works Negative impact on house prices in the area Support academisation of the Junior School Don't want any of the existing school staff to lose their job Safeguarding risk of field site for new build as only one entrance Object to consultation approach - focus on amalgamation not build Fear of sale of land for new housing development Trust the Junior School governing body decision Little room left to play within proposed new school Fear the caretaker will lose his house Should use the money for something else, such as pot hole repair Don't want sports facility on current school site No 53 37 29 20 18 15 6 5 4 3 1 % 45% 31% 24% 17% 15% 13% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 1% 1% Table is based on 614 minimal responses Table 4: Summary of minimal responses by category of respondent Agree Category Parent Local resident School staff Other stakeholder Total No 18 % 5% 1% 13% 3% 3% Disagree No % 148 94% 344 99% 13 87% 89 97% 594 97% No Preference No % 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% Total No 158 349 15 92 614 % 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% There were two key spikes in these minimal responses where duplicate anonymous forms with no reasons specified were submitted in quick succession for sustained periods of time at a rate of up to four duplicate submissions per minute It is highly likely that a person or persons have tried to influence the outcome of the informal survey by submitting duplicate blank surveys It is considered that 87% of these responses should be disregarded SURVEY COMMENTS SURVEY COMMENT 1) I expected from the information here to be given the opportunity to comment on the rebuild proposal - this form implies that the amalgamation and the rebuild are one and the same which is untrue The amalgamation could happen and the amalgamated school convert to an academy with or without new build You are trying to skew the result 2) A significant decision like this cannot be made on vague budget estimates I have been a developer for many years, and outline plans with budgetary estimates should always be prepared prior to any decision making Will a new school fit on the site? Can it it be constructed within cost estimates? Will the playground be large enough? How will the children get to and from the playground? Ie is the plan feasible? One only has to look at the Health Facility debacle in Altrincham to see how large schemes can go wrong if badly managed" SURVEY COMMENT We have no objection to the joint management of the two schools or the two schools joining an established Education Trust There will be benefits to the school management and the pupils In addition we have no objection to additional accommodation being provided to accommodate additional local pupils The management of the schools needs resolving before jumping to a design solution to accommodate the pupils The options around this should be put before members, parents staff and neighbours What is difficult to support without any details is the vague commentary about providing a new combined school on the playing fields on Queens Road It would be far better to provide an options analysis to provide the facilities This should include options about the existing school buildings which we understand a lot of local people like These should include: a consideration of a split school and the remodelling of part or all of the existing school, probably to provide a much better facility for the infants b a new build well designed school on the Playing fields for the juniors or for both infants and juniors It must have architectural interest and not be a ""copy and paste"" of some of the poor schools being built c alternative sites in the vicinity Has consideration been given to land on Urban Road adjacent to BTH, part paid for by selling Queens Road land and buildings for housing? d fully considered highway and car parking solutions that will not adversely affect residents d well designed sports and playing facilities" SURVEY COMMENT A better school environment and facilities SURVEY COMMENT A bigger school will result in greater congestion in the local streets SURVEY COMMENT A new build school has to be the best option for the community and generations of children that will come after mine attending the school currently (Y2 infant and year old who will join the nursery) The Junior governing board seem to be acting without any logic or common sense and I have no faith they will reject the idea of becoming an academy and accept the LEA proposal based on recent interactions with the school Why the Juniors are acting with complete disregard for the infant school and children is baffling and seems to be about something other than the children's best interests I would love for my son to enjoy most of his junior education in a brand new, fit for purpose building - and for his brother to enjoy his whole primary education in one setting, with consistent leadership and facilities that are in line with current standards - not as per the suitability reports generated that detail the areas where both the infants and junior buildings fall short of current requirements The new build school is an opportunity that many parents not want their children to miss out on because of the junior governors spurious decision making process and complete lack of transparency and lies that are being dished out - 50% of all children being educated in academies for example SURVEY COMMENT A new building is desperately needed and it makes sense to have one school rather than two in the area SURVEY COMMENT and A new school is very much needed as the current is not fit for purpose anymore, it's rather old and outdated and there is not enough space SURVEY COMMENT A single school is without doubt the sensible step to take with regards to our children’s education It should be seamless throughout their schooling up to the age of 11 The admin associated with the two separate schools is irritating at best, pointless and wasteful Two separate schools simply does not work in the best interests of the children or their parents I am responding as a parent of a child in infants, a child in nursery and as a local resident " SURVEY COMMENT 10 Absolutely YES to a new build school The current premises are not fit for purpose Not fit to teach current day curriculum No sufficient space to teach the SENCO children properly Extra group teaching is being done in the corridors, in the hall floor and in the staff room Mold in the infant school affecting everyone's health Not enough space in the classrooms of both schools - see suitability report No enough outside space hall for sports / lunchtime / lessons / music - again not enough space Insufficient toilets for adults We need a new school for this community SURVEY COMMENT 11 Academic - a consistent and coordinated curriculum from Nursery to Year Consistent SEN support Pastoral - consistent and continuous pastoral support for all, especially the most vulnerable children Staff - increased CPD opportunities across the Key Stages Parents - coordinated communications, clubs, wrap around care arrangements Finance - reduced costs, focus of finance on pupils Premises - fit for purpose learning environment" SURVEY COMMENT 12 All of our children attended Stamford Park Infants & Junior School & during the 15 years their attendance spanned we witnessed a break down in communication and cooperation between the sites Stamford Park is a very popular school and is oversubscribed Both parts have far more pupils than they have capacity for A new purpose built school is urgently required The Infants & Juniors need a cohesive working partnership to educate our children Currently the relationship is so strained it can only have a detrimental effect on the children Fundamentally their education should be the priority Having lessons in corridors & losing communal space is unacceptable We think the infants & juniors should be amalgamated - the current discord between the two is part illustration of why Why not accept the new build and all the benefits this will bring to the children and then discuss academy status with links to secondary schools after as one school This has already happened with primary & secondary schools in neighbouring Knutsford We regret the resulting loss of a beautiful building and all of it’s history but it is not fit for purpose SURVEY COMMENT 13 All my four children have attended The schools are run separately and this is helpful in allowing children to experience a smaller community school to meet the needs of local children SURVEY COMMENT 14 Amalgamation brings benefits for all children, reception - year 6, through streamlined curriculum planning, financial simplifications, cost savings through economies of scale, improved pastoral care, improved SEND planning, agreed values and culture across all staff and students, improved liaison between key stage and 2, improved CPD for teachers who are not ""locked in"" to teaching one key stage, streamlined governance and, should academisation be the future solution, a better and easier target for MATs I have developed my thoughts on curriculum more fully in the attached document." SURVEY COMMENT 15 Amalgamation means the following positive outcomes: - access to new build funding (absolutely critical) - consistent teaching - no transition from one school to other (very important for some SEND children who struggle with change) - better flow from primary to junior school - less disruptive for children - if new building delivered smaller class sizes s more availability of school places - potentially reduces staff costs - more money available for students - same holidays / closing days / policies SURVEY COMMENT 16 Amalgamation provide the better campus facilities like below: One campus, better utilisation of space which is currently split in nursery, infant and junior Building is very old hence need a new space One head teacher leads to unity of command which helps children's development since they start in nursery No need to move from one place to other Everything can be better streamlined end to end As a part, amalgamation looks right thing to us." SURVEY COMMENT 17 Amalgamation provides seamless transition and communication links between two currently very separate schools This is of huge benefit to our young children who have to manage the challenge of starting a new school unnecessarily The buildings are not fit for purpose, particularly the infant school and will eventually be unusable This will have a huge impact on providing education in the local area when at some point the schools will not be able to remain open Becoming an academy is of no significant benefit to the junior school Having a new primary school for the community would be immensely beneficial for current and future generations " SURVEY COMMENT 18 Among many other reasons, the site is not big enough to accommodate a form entry primary school SURVEY COMMENT 19 An amalgamated school has many clear benefits, and is in the best interests of all pupils, both current and future - Seamless transition from nursery to age 10, with benefits from close school/parents relationships which will cover all years - Uniform policies across all years - Greater focus on the curriculum from nursery to year - Economies of scale, with savings from doubling up of admin and school office staff How many other Trafford schools have split Infant/Junior?? It is an outdated and inefficient model" SURVEY COMMENT 20 An amalgamated school will give our children increased educational opportunities and safer facilities to flourish in, which as a parent is all I ask for An amalgamation would provide a more natural pathway for the children from infants to juniors and give more consistency of teaching and curriculums, which currently doesn’t happen (as I am led to believe) Furthermore, if there is opportunity for investment into the school as a result then I am for that SURVEY COMMENT 21 An amalgamated school would improve communication through the school There is currently very poor communication between the Infants and Juniors The current building is shared between Infants and Juniors, and decisions about its upkeep should be made by one school I believe the schools should be amalgamated whether they take up the offer of a new building or not." SURVEY COMMENT 22 An amalgamated schools better serves the education of the pupils A new building will accommodate more children and away with the current practice of mixed age group classes SURVEY COMMENT 23 An amalgamation between the two schools would help to simplify the administration and the academic connections between them.The ill-feeling between the administration of the two schools has been detrimental to everyone who has passed through infant and junior school It needs to come to an end A new building is required because the facilities in both schools, but particularly in the infant school, are not adequate for so many children The way in which year groups have to be split in the infant school - so that children from two different school years are in the same class - is far from ideal Facilities in general are cramped and dilapidated-looking I am generally in favour of preserving old buildings But these are no longer fit for purpose and we are doing our children a disservice in continuing to expect them to flourish within them SURVEY COMMENT 24 An amalgamation of the schools can only be a positive move, sharing resources, improved facilities, additional opportunities for the school and additional positions which will be created through being able to increase the student intake SURVEY COMMENT 25 An total waste of money to demolish the existing school to build new accommodation Why not refurbish and / or extend the existing school SURVEY COMMENT 26 Any expansion of the school and pupil numbers, will push the existing roads and services etc to breaking point ! SURVEY COMMENT 27 Anything that provides more school places locally is fantastic Where we live, despite a number of schools being really close, we’re only zoned for navigation road SURVEY COMMENT 28 As a former Year teacher and Deputy headteacher at the Infant School I heartily support the proposal to build a new primary school on the Queens Road site for the following reasons: - The staff will be able to deliver the new primary curriculum in a learning environment that is fit for purpose and the children will no longer have to tolerate an increasingly dilapidated environment For many years, school management teams, governors and parents have struggled to find additional funds to meet the spiralling costs of maintaining these old buildings The structures are increasingly dilapidated and will only require more and more money to keep them safe and dry in the future - Despite working tirelessly to modernise the teaching and learning environment, there is only so much a staff can in a building of this age and type For instance, the high ceilings, whilst attractive, allow sound to bounce around, so the children are trying to concentrate in noisy classrooms In Reception classrooms, where speaking and listening is a fundamental part of learning, noise levels can be very high - The layout of the building means that access to the classrooms is largely through the school hall This is problematic as it is the only space available for assemblies, PE, practical science and technology work and music Adults and children regularly need to move around the school which means that PE classes are frequently interrupted - There is no dining room in the Infant school Lunch is taken in the hall, which has to be empty to allow for the setting up of dining tables This shortens the time available for curricular activities and the noise incurred disturbs lessons in the surrounding classrooms The only alternative is for the children to eat hot and cold food at their worktables in their classrooms A new school would have a kitchen attached to a dining hall, a designated space for eating during the school day This would be pleasant for the children, convenient for the kitchen staff and a lot more hygienic It could also be an area in which pre-school and post-school clubs could operate - New school fields would have toileting facilities (currently unavailable on the Queens Road field), changing facilities and shaded cover - The current pupil intake of 70 in the infants means that some of the classes are of mixed ages Indeed, one of these classes includes children from two key stages These classes demand a lot of extra work for the teaching staff, as each year group has to be taught its own curriculum and learning objectives Proposals for increased pupil numbers to make a three form entry primary school would eradicate mixed age classes from the Infant department It would also end the current arrangement whereby children move from one class to another to avoid being in a mixed age class more than once This can disrupt friendship groups - Transition from Infants to Juniors will become easier for the pupils - In becoming a primary school there will be opportunities to re-organise how the new school is run For instance, there will be more teachers to share responsibility for curriculum areas It will be easier to assess attainment, track each pupil's progress and measure the value that has been added when pupils attend one school rather than two - The alternative to building a new primary school would be to spend increasingly large sums of public money to shore-up a failing building Stamford Park pupils would be denied the standards and benefits of school environments experienced by their peers elsewhere, which would be very unfair Local families have waited long enough for 21st century educational provision." SURVEY COMMENT 29 As a local parent that has two children at the junior school and one that has left to attend Altrincham Boys (all also went to the infants), I think it serves parents far better for the junior school to become an academy, in partnership with North Cestrian and AGSB, with a real focus on preparing our children for the 11+ I'm a local resident (Ashfield Road) and parent of two children currently attending the Junior School All three of my children have attended both the Infant and Juniors Schools (My elder son now attends AGSB and my Yr6 eldest daughter is to attend North Cestrian in the next academic year) It’s shameful that our junior school turns its back on the 11+, leaving parents to prepare their children for this alone via private tutors It’s even more shameful that so much local academic potential is lost to this (lately the less well off) and that the council are now threatening parents with no school refurb funds unless they agree to the amalgamation We know this is false Shame on you!! SURVEY COMMENT 30 As a local resident and mother of a child due to start school in September 2020, and having previously had an older child go through Stamford Park infants and junior school I strongly believe the current school is not fit for purpose and therefore this is hindering the development of the children Classes are often disrupted due to the close proximity of the hall for PE lessons, there is no additional space for extra learning Children need to learn in a clean, fit for purpose, inspiring environment The current buildings on both sites are in dire need of repair SURVEY COMMENT 31 As a local resident and parent of children who all attended both schools within the last 10 years over a total period of time of more than 10 years I am against amalgamation Both schools function very very well independently and produce high results Communication has always been good, until the last months when this interference from the council has caused a lot of upset and unpleasantness The local area and children DO NOT NEED a brand new school, it isn't the bricks and mortar that count, it's the people who support and care for the children and make them happy while producing excellent results If the Infant school needs repairing them get them done, as a council you have a responsibility to ensure this happens - why have you let the Infants get to this state of disrepair? The Junior school is absolutely fit for purpose Build on the existing building, DO NOT destroy it We DO NOT need to increase the capacity, there isn't the space in the local community We DO NOT want years of major building work taking place in our community We DO NOT want the current children to use daily use of the sports field, when childhood obesity is such a major issue Trafford Council you should be ashamed because this is just another cost saving activity and probably a plan to sell off part of the land that the current school is built on to build even more houses - just like you are doing everywhere else, eg Hale library There must be guarantees put in place to make sure you are NOT allowed to this ever Stamford Park Infants and Juniors are fantastic schools - stop interferring and just get on and the necessary maintenance SURVEY COMMENT 32 As a local resident living on Cedar Road opposite the school, I am concerned about the impact a newly developed school would have on the basis that we haven't seen a more detailed proposal which makes it difficult to gauge the impact That said, one of my concerns would be regarding parking - a larger school would have more parents dropping off children, there is already a relatively small amount of parking for residents, parents dropping of children and teachers parking - this would need to be factored in and I have no desire to have a multiple storey car park opposite us with the additional pollution this would bring and it can be difficult navigating Cedar Road during school drop/pickup times as it is, with an additional 50% of parents dropping off and picking children up it may bring the area to a standstill The building a new school and demolition of the old one would likely generate a significant amount of noise and particulate pollution, and as the area is already somewhat over populated, would it not be worth building another school nearby with easier access routes I'm mindful that if children's health is at risk something should be done but surely this could be done by providing the school with additional funding to redevelop the most badly affected areas in line with building regulations and improving ventilation On this basis I can't agree with the proposal at this stage until we receive further information SURVEY COMMENT 33 As a local resident whose house backs onto the current playing field, I have the following reasons for not wanting the schools to amalgamate and build a new larger school on the field: - The light to our house would be very badly compromised - The current open view would be destroyed and we would be looking directly into the large school building - The noise and air pollution would significantly increase due to several factors: - the school would grow in numbers by 50% - the number of cars using the Queens Road entrance would be an even bigger increase as currently there are separate entrances to the Infants and Junior schools - The increased traffic will have a bad affect on the surrounding roads which are narrow and overcrowded already - With 50% more pupils, there will obviously be the same increase in staff which will cause the surrounding roads to be even more congested with staff cars SURVEY COMMENT 239 The current buildings are not fit for purpose, if this is the only way to have a new school building then I have to be in favour of the council's proposal SURVEY COMMENT 240 The current junior classrooms are not fit for purpose 34 children in a room built for 28! The mould in the infants and general disrepair In the school is becoming a health issue SEN facilities are required for the increasing number of children with educational issues as well as those that need support in EAL As much as the school is wonderfully traditional unfortunately it no longer meets the needs of today’s educational requirements SURVEY COMMENT 241 The current school accommodation is not fit for purpose The classrooms are too small, in the infant school in some classrooms you cannot fit enough chairs in for all the children to sit down There is teaching of EAL and SEND children in the corridor/reception area, in the library and staff room The building is in such a poor state that school has had to be closed for a few days in order to purify the air sufficiently for staff and children to return safely after staff illness caused by the decaying school environment The school if amalgamated would be able to benefit by economies of scale, better communication and sharing of knowledge and teaching expertise amongst teaching staff, better learning environment for children and would be able to educate a greater number of children The thought that another generation of young people will have to endure this kind of poor teaching environment is very upsetting in a first world economy and especially in Trafford which prizes and excels in Education " SURVEY COMMENT 242 and 243 The current school building is over 100 years old and is no longer a fit for purpose educational facility This is evidenced by the recent closure due to mould spores The offer of an £8m new school building is a fantastic opportunity to bring the two schools together in a new modern facility which will reduce the running costs and raise standards I have no objection to academisation in principle but it should be done after the schools have merged It is beyond comprehension as to why the junior school would wish to turn down the offer from Trafford and continue to educate children in a school that is literally falling apart." SURVEY COMMENT 244 The current school is falling apart and is too small, especially the infants A new school would be fantastic for the children and I don’t know anyone that doesn’t agree apart from the junior school head and governors We’re not interested in being an academy as it will make no difference to the children who we should be most concerned about It feels like this message is being shouted loud and clear by everyone but we’re not being listened to I wish you luck in making this happen! SURVEY COMMENT 245 The current state of the school buildings are way below the levels required for the educational needs of our children The classrooms are cramped and overcrowded, have shown high levels of mould which could affect the pupil's health and are not environmentally friendly A modern building would not only benefit the local children by providing better facilities, but also decrease energy use thanks to modern insulated building materials Less energy use, lower costs, fewer emissions The alternative proposal of a Junior School Academy leaves our children being educated in substandard buildings and does nothing to help the Infant School, driving further division and bad feeling between the two schools." SURVEY COMMENT 246 The demolition of the existing period Edwardian school would be a very sad loss to the community A modern school, however well designed could not replace the existing premises A two / three storey structure would be well out of keeping with the surrounding buildings SURVEY COMMENT 247 The full proposals for the suggested amalgamation of the schools and the construction of a new school has not be made clear No plans have been published for the new school indicating the size ,number of storeys of the footprint of the building This is a fundamental part of the change The new combined school will require : a)The demolition of the existing Edwardian school b)The construction of the new school on the existing playing field Due to the small size of the field it will need to be three storey building Again this has not been made clear Without publishing the full details of the proposals the public are not been given the full facts and Trafford council are therefore deceiving the public It will not be a modern new school with outside space It will be a cramped school will the children having to use staircases throughout the day to access classrooms The loss of the much loved Edwardian school will also not be accepted by the local population " SURVEY COMMENT 248 The infant school building is beautiful and historic but no longer fit for purpose The money that needs to be spent on the building could be used to benefit the children It seems ridiculous that the people that are being allowed to make the decision have a financial interest The decision should be made independently based what is best for the community and the children, not the people who’s jobs maybe affected SURVEY COMMENT 249 The Junior and Infant Schools should be allowed to make their own independent decisions as to their future, with the full backing of the Local Authority If this means they go their separate ways then so be it SURVEY COMMENT 250 The junior and primary school are both doing well, but definitely should not be amalgamated !! SURVEY COMMENT 251 The money should be spent on restoring the existing building and extending it where necessary The proposal for the amalgamated school gives a site which ia unsafe and puts the safety of the children ay risk SURVEY COMMENT 252 The money would be better spent on filling in pot holes in our roads SURVEY COMMENT 253 The old school is tired and we need a new one SURVEY COMMENT 254 The opportunity for both schools to benefit from a new building is wonderful and I sincerely hope it goes ahead - even if just to ease congestion around the streets neighbouring the school because of the parking that will be provided on the existing school site I am in complete support of this proposal." SURVEY COMMENT 255 The proposal is completely out of character with the location and unnecessary The loss of the current building would negatively impact the location and put a huge strain on local roads and amenities There should be more effort made to identity an more appropriate site The lack of support for the proposal makes it essential that the local authority listens to those of us in the community who have lived in the area for decades and curb the influx of education shoppers." SURVEY COMMENT 256 The proposal is to create a new primary school building on the existing school field site which would be a three-form entry primary school This would give more school places for the growing population of primary age children in the area while also creating an excellent new learning environment We believe this proposal is in the best interests of local children and the wider community SURVEY COMMENT 257 The proposal of amalgamating Stamford park schools will cause many problems I live next to the school, so I and fellow neighbours would be greatly disturbed The construction would be horrendous and the amount of pupils would disrupt Queens Rd more than it already is thus forcing residents to move Not only this but the school holds many memories for countless amounts of people and many generations To see it go would be heartbreaking Please don’t demolish Stamford SURVEY COMMENT 258 The proposal to build any sort of 3-storey building must never be allowed in a living area like the one around Stamford Park School People live here, their homes are on the same street, they look over the proposed build areas and the disruption would be catastrophic The streets are slow moving residential streets - building vehicles would be totally out of order A new build in this area is completely ill-fitting to the nature of this residential area of older buildings The word amalgamate is a false description - it already works together - this is a build proposal Planning permission for anything else would be given the kind of scrutiny that would make this sort of proposal as impossible The field on which the building is proposed is green area, the streets are quiet 20mph streets, Oak Road is a narrow one way street with the road already breaking up, parking is very difficult - this proposal should fail without question I would personally block Oak Road to stop building vehicles using it SURVEY COMMENT 259 The proposed new build school seems plus car park seems quite big for the site, will planning permission be granted and how will the residents feel backing on to a 2/3 storey building The increase in traffic during and after the build will be a hazardous situation The council cannot seem to control the parking at the moment in terms of parents abandoning cars on double yellow lines to collect their children, can you imagine what it will be like with the new build? Where will the children play whilst the build is being completed? It is paramount for children to exercise and enjoy sports as much as they are able to within school The building dates back to 1901 and it seems a real tragedy to remove this bit of history If the council have approx £8 million budget, surely they can spend that on the current building instead " SURVEY COMMENT 260 The reason i dont agree is that a new school would be built right up to the property I live Also what is going to happen about parking it's bad enough as it is they are going to be using our private parking spaces." SURVEY COMMENT 261 The school building is falling apart, the infants have had to have emergency temporary extra ventilation put in due to dangerous mould Its obviously in need of vast renovation at the very least, a new building will be much better than fixing the old crumbling one My daughter is due to start in reception this coming September, my second daughter will start there in years and I want them to have the best education possible and truly believe that that new modern facilities will improve their education It's blatantly obvious that the sensible thing to is to build a new school and I feel the reason the head teacher is opposed to amalgamation is due to the fear of not getting the job to run the amalgamated school, very selfish and I don't any longer think she has the children's beat interests at heart Due to this I fear the school will go the same way as The Bollin did and I really don't think any patent wants that SURVEY COMMENT 262 The school building needs replacing & the schools will run smoother if amalgamated SURVEY COMMENT 263 The school in its current state is most definitely not fit for purpose It is an AMAZING school and the teachers a fantastic job with limited amount of space They teach children in the corridor, staff room and outside the school office Even under these conditions the teachers amazing things and our children love it there Being two separate schools serves no purpose as would benefit more being together The academy option is ridiculous and is driven by money and will not benefit the children and future children there SURVEY COMMENT 264 The school is are currently not fit for purpose with aspergillosis diagnoses in infants school & buckets of water collecting rain inside the juniors next to light fittings The schools are detrimental to children’s health The teaching is excellent but the space is unfit for the curriculum and it would be impossible to be a fully inclusive school SURVEY COMMENT 265 The school is in need of essential maintenance However, what has occurred in other areas is beautiful buildings demolished in favour of horrid buildings that will not last 100 years Community schools should be just that and meet the needs of local people There is s need to build a bigger school in Altrincham to meet the needs of increasing population but not here in the middle of tree lined roads where parking is a major issue As a resident living adjacent to the school it is almost intolerable living here and is an accident waiting to happen Residents are unable to park and parents dropping kids off causes a nuisance There needs to be a nearby parking area for drop off so parents can walk kids into school If parents are using cars I would argue they are not safeguarding their own kids health and safety A bigger school here is not welcome and would be bad for the local area Towns should provide larger schools with smaller community schools serving local residents All my kids have attended and I speak as parent and resident SURVEY COMMENT 266 The school is in rapid need of modernisation We have already had issues with fungal spores in both the infant and junior school The age of the building must also create a massive headache when it comes to heating and lighting costs Whilst school accademies seem to be the way forward, lets not be selfish, trying to protect jobs, and consider the benefits of a brand new (cost efficient) school Surely accedemisation can be discussed at a later date SURVEY COMMENT 267 The school is old & problems with mould have recently been encountered Combining the two schools should improve the continuity of the school as a whole & a new building surely has to be in the best interests of the pupils and the future pupils/community SURVEY COMMENT 268 The school is run as two separate schools and has worked well up until now It is already large enough and doesnt need expanding The field will be lost for all pupils and there will be new buildings on the old site The new build will be far too high and affect the outlook for all the families that back on to it currently The money would be better spent upgrading the old buildings It has been there for over 100 years and is an iconic part of he area The new building of a school would be very disruptive to local residents and the school SURVEY COMMENT 269 The school is well respected locally but it is clear that the buildings are not fit for purpose and the separate infants and junior school model is dated and pointless given they are on the same site I think a new school would be great for the local community and provide the existing schools with better facilities to match their good reputation SURVEY COMMENT 270 The schools already work closely together and majority all students go through both schools aligning their schooling leadership makes sense and should reduce ongoing operational costs The school building is also not fit for purpose and needs to be replaced SURVEY COMMENT 271 The schools have separate identities and each has a different role as the children progress The two schools give the children experience of change at an early age." SURVEY COMMENT 272 The schools should not be amalgamated Their unique character built over many years will be lost SURVEY COMMENT 273 The schools would absolutely profit from sharing resources, teaching and skills This is a must activity which can only provide immense benefits for generations to come SURVEY COMMENT 274 The site for the Primary School is very tight with access only from a short section onto Queens Rd I feel this would present risks to all children at the new school SURVEY COMMENT 275 The size of the proposed school is out of proportion to the surrounding buildings and the loss of the original Edwardian School would be a sad loss to the local community The increased traffic on Queens Road would be significant and hazardous to the local community." SURVEY COMMENT 276 The Stamford Park school building is an iconic building of Hale and has been for over a hundred years Whilst I understand the pressures to increase intake substantially this simply cannot be to the detriment of such a wonderful building and one which all local residents refer to as such a major part of their childhoods Please not spoil our wonderful primary school " SURVEY COMMENT 277 The Stamford Park schools are excellent but have two weaknesses: A) the transition between schools is a poor very light touch experience for pupils who need extra support, whether due to their special needs or individual character B) the school environment is no longer for for the purposes of a modern school Certainly the junior is untidy/chaotic as the building design does not accommodate the increasing amount of stuff a modern school uses My eldest child (in secondary now) would have benefitted from holistic integrated experience where all teachers got to know him over time Instead he experienced a light handover where the receiving junior school had very poor understanding of his needs I find the combative relationship between schools very disturbing In these divided times, it saddens me that there is such an open war for territory Surely, for sake of the pupils, a more unified not less unified approach is needed." SURVEY COMMENT 278 The sympathetic approach, and high standard of parenteral care that these schools currently foster would be lost in the proposed merger SURVEY COMMENT 279 The traffic is already an issue at the school, parents are parking illegally To make the school bigger will cause more problems The old building may have problems but will cost less to rectify than building another school The history of our area will be gone if the school is knocked down SURVEY COMMENT 280 The two current schools occupy the same site, indeed the same building When my children started at the infant school I was surprised to learn that there were separate schools with separate school offices and management hierarchies Surely no-one with a blank sheet would sensibly propose the current set-up? A single school which cares for children through their primary school education makes sense - and hopefully this would create a management structure which would release some funds for other purposes The existing building may appeal to some local residents from a distance but I expect those teaching, and being taught, can can readily imagine a better learning environment A modern school would, no doubt, be designed with new technologies and environmental efficiencies Improved sports facilities would also be wonderful given the need to encourage kids to have a more active lifestyle For example, it would be wonderful if the new site could accommodate the 'morning mile' (which my sister, a primary school teacher, advocates strongly) The opportunity to create a single school in a new building is an opportunity that should not be missed I don't want this repose to appear critical of either school My children are happy at the schools and progressing well But this does appear to be a once in a generation opportunity to create a better learning environment for my kids and those who will attend over the coming decades I suggest that we should look beyond any current politics and invest in a new school SURVEY COMMENT 281 The two existing schools are in a very poor state of repairsuch that a lot of School funds are taken up with maintaining these old school buildings They not provide sufficient space to teach the children attending either school Recently the infant school had to shut for two days because of high levels of mild spores which caused concern for the children and staff health on site Neither School is fit for purpose, and education is suffering as a result The offer of a new School would bring the schools up to modern day standards, and would be a significant benefit to the children and their future education I whole heartedly support the amalgamation of the two schools to one It makes complete financial, educational and community sense I am a mum of two children who attend Stamford park infant school and therefore have a direct interest in the outcome I urge you to progress the option of amalgamating the two schools and build a new School on site " SURVEY COMMENT 282 The two school becoming one will provide a smoother transition for the children It would be more cost effective ie not having two grade teachers The school buildings are dated and a new build would provide much better and much needed facilities for the pupils SURVEY COMMENT 283 The two schools share pupils, staff and buildings It makes no sense what so ever to run the schools as separate entities Combining them will be cost effective for the council, and it will be better for the children to have a seamless primary education The Junior school pursuing further separation via unilateral academisation flies in the face of reason - their lack of consultation with Infant's school is unjustifiable As a former parent of children at both schools I am deeply saddened by the illogical and divisive actions of the Junior school governors SURVEY COMMENT 284 There are surely benefits for the children as well as the teachers in providing a seamless transition through the primary school years: continuity of education; older children working with/mentoring the younger ones, setting good examples/standards, motivating younger ones; building a sense of community across age groups; sharing resources beit physical or staff SURVEY COMMENT 285 There is no provision for the current caretaker house in the LA proposal which could see a family with disabled member homeless SURVEY COMMENT 286 They are working fine as they are Any change will involve more cars and create an even bigger nightmare for local residents who find it hard to park as it is Plus having playing fields nearer to the houses will create more noise pollution Also the current building is lovely and should not be demolished there is a proud tradition of generations having attended the school SURVEY COMMENT 287 Think it would benefit all the children to work in an improved environment SURVEY COMMENT 288 This is a disgrace I not want a massive primary box blotting our local area It is not in keeping with this area at all SURVEY COMMENT 289 This is a superb opportunity for the infant and junior schools to join forces in harmony and to create a modern school that is fit for purpose in pursuit of the highest standards of education for future generations of local children SURVEY COMMENT 290 This is an exceptional opportunity for the current cohort and future children of this area Stamford Park Infant and Junior school provides an excellent education however the facilities and working environment for the children and staff is below par Children are being taught in corridors, the school has been closed due to mould spores and the building will continue to cost more money to maintain in years to come Amalgamation will not only streamline the education experience for the children right the way through, it will save money in terms of staffing and also provide the best environment for children to flourish in a building that is fit for a modern education " SURVEY COMMENT 291 This is my second attempt to send this form as there appeared to be a problem the first time I am totally opposed to the plan to demolish Stamford Park School as the Edwardian building is of historic interest and in keeping with its surroundings It would be a huge loss to the area Surely the £8 million could be spent instead on completely transforming the interior to bring it up to modern standards and on any improvements to the building which are deemed necessary The neighbouring houses retain their outward appearance whilst having been modernised internally and are very much in demand as desirable residences, not written off as out of date and unfit for purpose I am concerned about the layout of the proposed playing fields and car park, especially where the entrance to the car park would be and what the future outlook from my lounge window would be I attended Stamford Park School and have enjoyed living opposite the School for 40 years so you will understand why I feel so strongly about this Please can you tell me why the residents of Cedar Road, as close neighbours of the School, were not notified directly by Trafford Council about this matter nor about the consultation which ends today? How were we expected to find out about it? I trust that we will be kept informed of future developments Why does the above question only refer to the amalgamation and not the resultant demolition of the existing building? I have no objection to the schools amalgamating on the present site The neighbouring houses retain their outward appearance whilst having been modernised internally and are very much in demand as desirable residences, not written off as out of date and unfit for purpose I am concerned about the layout of the proposed playing fields and car park, especially where the entrance to the car park would be and what the future outlook from my lounge window would be I attended Stamford Park School and have enjoyed living opposite the School for 40 years so you will understand why I feel so strongly about this Please can you tell me why the residents of Cedar Road, as close neighbours of the School, were not notified directly by Trafford Council about this matter nor about the consultation which ends today? How were we expected to find out about it? I trust that we will be kept informed of future developments SURVEY COMMENT 292 This is the proposal which makes sense going forward The current school facilities are dilapidated and out moded the toilets at both school are particularly awful and the provision for sports is very poor at a time when we need to be encouraging our kids to stay fit and be more healthy.Both schools seem to be running on a let’s make the best of it principal when there is an opportunity to have something far better Further the heads seem to be at loggerheads which means that there is no consistent vision across the schools which amalgamation could offer It seem quite frankly crazy to have half the school as an academy and half the school as something else Further I would anticipate that a new school would be a more energy efficient building which would support the Mayor’s clean air commitment by reducing the carbon foot print In the words of Albert Einstein ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them’ which seems to be the current junior school policy SURVEY COMMENT 293 This will provide continuity for children and secure funding for a new building SURVEY COMMENT 294 To bring the two schools together would be amazing The building of the infant school is just not big enough and appropriate for the modern day teaching There is limited space in the playground and not spare rooms for sub groups to be taught Joining the two schools together would make the transition for the children from year 2-3 effortless The building was closed for several days due to spores reading being too high, from what I can gather this hasn’t been treated although regular testing is happening so there is a high possibility it could return That really worries me SURVEY COMMENT 295 To demolish and the rebuild a new school on the playing fields is a total loss of a heritage historic building, money, etc !!! SURVEY COMMENT 296 TRAFFIC - Stamford Park School is non denominational, unlike many local faith schools it is not dictated by a parish or religious attendance, it is state funded, it has a positive ofsted and high standard of pupil results, this makes it very attractive to parents who not live within the local area There are already a large amount of parents dropping children off to school many even travel in groups together in cars The council proposes an intake increase of x20 pupils, over the Infants and Junior school this will mean an additional 140 pupils attending Stamford Park every morning and leaving each evening, an additional 280 journeys Currently there are 490 pupils and already the adjoining roads have significant issues Every day, cars blocking the roads dropping off, illegal parking and just too many cars which cannot pass each other on the congested overcrowded roads, causing significant jams at the crossroad I see drivers having altercations every single day Increasing pupil numbers would I expect, encourage more applications from 'out of area', who would be most likely be dropping their children off in cars Even with a very conservative estimate of only 20% of the extra 140 pupil parents using cars, this would be an additional 28 cars or 56 journeys daily The road infrastructure cannot be increased, so the new school proposals would lead to traffic bottlenecking on Queens Road, backing up Stamford Park Road, Cedar Road, Beech Road, Hawthorn Road and also likely the other way, causing further disruption to the already tricky crossroads at the top of Queens Road and Hale Road, which has already it own problems with pupils/cars of the independent Hale Prep School Why isn't the council proposing to build new schools within the new large scale family housing developments being proposed ie: the Timperley wedge? SURVEY COMMENT 297 and 298 Trafford have offered a new build amalgamated primary school for a better future not only for my children but for future generations to come A learning environment designed to deliver a modern curriculum, not a 1905 one A purpose-built school with appropriately sized classrooms, leading to no requirement for vertically integrated group classes in the Infant school and class sizes reduced to 30 in the Junior school, leading to no further teaching in halls outside toilets and in the reception area Improved access to outdoor areas which will impact positively on children’s mental health and well-being with learning areas for children in all key stages The current building is no longer fit for purpose as both school Suitability Reports show, I reference the on going mould issue in SPIS and the roof issue in SPJS All funding (including fund raising) will be able to be spent on improving outcomes for children instead of on existing and ongoing maintenance and improvements to deteriorating buildings An amalgamated school with have a seamless transition between key stages with shared vision and values throughout the school from EYFS to Key stage 2, this differs between the two schools and is disconcerting for children and parents alike Continuity of assessment across all key stages in teaching and learning along with consistent expectations regarding attainment, achievement, progress and correspondence with parents A wider pool of expertise amongst teachers from which to draw to benefit all key stages and Improved use of teacher’s skills and specialist teaching SURVEY COMMENT 299 Unique opportunity to have a purpose built new school for all ages Creates a unified school." SURVEY COMMENT 300 We are responding to this consultation as both local residents (we live on Stanway Drive and our house and garden backs on to the existing school field) AND as prospective parents – we are currently expecting a baby girl and hope that she will attend both Stamford Park Infant School and subsequently Stamford Park Junior School in future We are in favour of improving the building and facilities at the schools, however, we not believe it makes any sense to build a new school on the existing school playing field Our reasons for this are as follows: The current site on which the school is built is a larger, more suitable site for the school A multi-storey school, with much higher pupil numbers, would have a negative impact on the surrounding area, both in terms of the aesthetic fit with local buildings in the area and increased pressure on infrastructure and amenities For us personally, the existence of a three-story school in such close proximity to our house and garden would constitute a significant invasion of our privacy, creating substantial noise and disturbance We are sure that the existence of the multi-storey school in such close proximity to our house and garden would adversely affect the value of our property and we have no indication that there would be any form of compensation We have just invested a considerable sum in creation of a second floor master bedroom and en suite on the basis that it overlooks a beautiful green space which we have always understood to be protected land We would likely have made an entirely different decision if this was to look across into a second storey of a school and this would certainly have affected our investment decision We are deeply sceptical of there being no current plans to sell or re-develop any of the land on which the existing school is built, or to demolish the caretaker’s house Even if this is the current intention, there are no guarantees of this in the proposals whatsoever and it is our understanding that there are no forms of protection from re-development on the land of the existing school site, as there are on the site of the existing playing field We believe that the fact that there would be only one single point of entry to the school (rather than the two separate entrances for the infant and junior schools as currently), combined with the vastly increased capacity, would put significantly increased pressure on local traffic routes and amenities that could not be adequately supported The heritage of the current buildings and location adds a lot to the beauty and character of the area – incorporating some of the “historical features” such as date stones and entrance arches are such minor measures that would have very little impact and would not compensate in any way The fact that that the governors of the junior school have evaluated the proposals in detail and come to the conclusion that an alternative route would be in the best interests of the pupils of the school casts serious doubt on the value of the Council’s proposals We have read the junior school’s rationale and justification for that decision (as published on 22 March 2019) – the loss of annual funding referred to in that document would be of considerable concern to us as future parents of a pupil or pupils at the school 10 We understand that the Council’s proposal and calculations were prepared on the basis that the existing school playing field site is a greenfield site, but are aware that this is not the case, and the costs and complications in building on the site would therefore be much greater than anticipated 11 As future parents of a pupil at both the infant and junior school, we agree with the Junior School Governors’ assessment that the overall size of the new school would limit the potential of the relationships between children, families and community 12 The existing playing fields site is a valuable habitat to local wildlife – we are keen bird-watchers and regularly see a wide range of species on and around the field, together with other wildlife species (such as hedgehogs) which are currently in decline SURVEY COMMENT 301 We are very concerned that during the demolition of the existing school and construction of a new school will disrupt and have a severe detrimental impact on the pupils learning and other activities SURVEY COMMENT 302 We disagree with the amalgamation due to the proposal to build a new school in the playing field Our property backs onto the school playing field and as such is not over looked The building of a new school especially a multi-storey school would seriously impact our view, invade our privacy and also there would be a drastic increase on noise levels of which would spoil the peaceful tranquility of our garden A deciding factor purchasing our property many years ago was that it backed on to green space Any building on this field would have a serious negative impact on the value our property SURVEY COMMENT 303 We not want to see the demolition of the traditional school and building on one of the few remaining green areas The plot is not big enough for a school anyway Plus parking for a form entry school SURVEY COMMENT 304 We have a child currently in the junior school and another about to start in the infant school We find that the lack of continuity is very unsettling for the children Transition between the two schools isn’t supported well by the junior school Having to work with two separate offices is also difficult as a parent Both schools are old and not fit for purpose Children are squashed into small rooms, the roof leaks and there is a distinct lack of natural sunlight through the school The early years outdoor provision is severely limited due to lack of outdoor space and so children who prefer to learn outdoors have limited options A new build school would provide the children with more space, more natural light and an environment that supports their well-being and learning form entry would also allow the infant school to have straight year group classes Having had a child in a mixed year group class, we can see that teaching is difficult and not ideal for the children Some children miss out on the reception class altogether SURVEY COMMENT 305 We object to the proposal for the following reasons: 1) Amalgamation will remove the identities of the two schools - all our children attended both schools and we found that the small infant school provided a much better supportive environment before moving on to the junior school 2) There will be a loss of the historic buildings which simply putting in one or two featues in a new build will not replace 3) Traffic on Queens Road will increase substantially leading to more pollution (an evident danger to children) as parents drop off or pick up or as they already do, sit in their cars with engines idling Queens Road is already used as a cut through and as a parking lot for people commuting into Manchester There is little respect for the 20mph speed limit with no enforcement 4) There will be a loss of playing fields - I have no confidence that the “new” playing field on the old site will adequately replace what is lost 5) This seems a total waste of money If there is a need to increase the size of the school - which I doubt as local new housing is mainly apartments - why not simply renovate and extend the old school 6) The new build will be unfair to existing residents who currently border the field (of which we are not one) who purchased their property adjoining the playing field with a reasonable expectation that that was how it would remain - as government policy repeatedly been not to build on school playing fields." SURVEY COMMENT 306 We should not lose the building that is currently there it is in keeping with the neighbourhood and a sporting facility would look awful and reduce house prices in the area and block light to surrounding houses The current building is an amazing building that should be renovated and added to not knocked down because it is a cheaper option It would be a shame for the children to lose that building and have an awful new build in its place SURVEY COMMENT 307 Whether or not the rebuilding proposal goes ahead it would make sense to amalgamate the schools to improve communication, coordination and sharing of resources SURVEY COMMENT 308 Why change something that is working really well Any change will be for the worse! SURVEY COMMENT 309 Why destroy a beautiful building to replace it with a modern inferior one? If there is money to be spent please spend it on necessary educational provision or other local requirements If the school or the educational system has any faults it will not be the age of the building which is to blame Elton is old The parking provision is poor as it is without more disruption to local residents SURVEY COMMENT 310 Yes I support he amalgamation but I am not keen on a new school where the field is I would like to know where the children will be able to play sports, how much room they will have for the playground etc Is it not possible to use the money to something with the school and space that is already there? SURVEY COMMENT 311 Yes I support the amalgamation of the two schools and believe that this is in the best interest for all children attending SURVEY COMMENT 312 Yes it is in the best interests to amalgamate and build new facilities for children