Decision details

To seek permission to consult on a proposal, requested by the federated Governing Body of the Whitby Secondary Partnership, to amalgamate Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School resulting in the technical closure of Eskdale School and the Eskdale site, and increase the planned admission number for the amalgamated school with effect from 1 September 2023.

To approve public consultation on proposals, requested by the federated Governing Board of the Whitby Secondary Partnership, to amalgamate Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School resulting in the technical closure of Eskdale School and the Eskdale site, and increase the planned admission number for the amalgamated school with effect from 1 September 2024..

The Whitby Secondary Partnership was formed in July 2019, bringing together the governing bodies of the two secondary schools in the town, Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School, to form a single Governing Board responsible for both schools. Eskdale School is an 11-16 school and Caedmon College Whitby is an 11-19 school. The Whitby Sixth Form, although technically part of Caedmon College Whitby, serves both schools. An Executive Headteacher is responsible for both schools and works with two Heads of School and two Senior Leadership Teams.

Eskdale School, now an 11-16 school, extended its age range from an 11-14 middle deemed secondary school from September 2016. Caedmon College Whitby is an 11-19 school formed by the amalgamation of Whitby Community College and Caedmon School in 2014.

Eskdale School operates from a single site on the east side of Whitby. Caedmon College Whitby’s 11-16 provision mainly operates from the Normanby Site (formerly Whitby Community College) and the Whitby Sixth Form is based on the Scoresby Site (formerly Caedmon School), both on the west side of the town.

On 13 December 2022 the Governing Board of the Whitby Secondary Partnership decided to ask North Yorkshire County Council to commence a consultation process on their proposal to amend the structure of the Whitby Secondary Partnership. Their initial proposal was that Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School amalgamate from 1 September 2023, however following further consideration, the Governing Board now request that NYCC consult on the amalgamation taking place from 1 September 2024.

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