Decision details

Approval to consult on proposals to reorganise secondary education in Whitby by amalgamating Eskdale School and Caedmon College, Whitby through the technical closure of Eskdale School and the associated enlargement and expansion of Caedmon College, Whitby.

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

The longstanding and publicly expressed view of the Local Authority is that it would be in the best interests of children in the Whitby area for the secondary schools to be working much more closely together and that a single organisational structure would be most likely to secure high quality, sustainable provision in the area.

The need in particular to ensure a high quality, viable post 16 offer within the town.

In times of diminishing resources, the ability to concentrate on front-line teaching, reducing management overhead costs and opening up the ability for further efficiencies for instance through procurement of goods and services, for one school.

The Whitby secondary schools have collaborated over many years, and there have been previous moves towards closer collaboration with extensive support from the Local Authority. Caedmon School and Whitby Community College amalgamated in 2014 following a successful federation in 2010.

In the light of the current position, both sets of governors have written to the local authority indicating that they would like the views of parents and the wider community to be sought on a proposal for amalgamating the schools.

The report rehearses a number of options that could have been considered, including federation of the two schools, and closure/amalgamation onto various combinations of sites.