The new school’s commissioner, Dr Elizabeth Sidwell, has said she is eager to see more all-through schools opening as academies under her watch. These schools are created by a secondary school joining up with one or more feeder primaries to educate children from age 3 through to 18.
Dr Sidwell hopes that removing the transitional period between primary and secondary education will eliminate the acknowledged ‘dip’ in performance between these phases of education. A child should be more confident and familiar in their surroundings if they do not have to switch schools at age 11.
However, it is not all plain sailing. Some schools, (especially small primaries) may be concerned that they would lose their autonomy by joining up with a secondary. Others may have concerns about bringing together two or more very different organisational structures.
These concerns can be overcome by careful planning and by considering all aspects of an all-through school proposal to ensure each school is content with the arrangement.