Green light given to merge three Leigh Park schools after a decline in pupil numbers and poor Ofsted verdict
The green light given to plans to merge three Leigh Park schools later this year following a decline in pupil numbers and poor Ofsted inspections at two of them.
Riders Infant School and Riders Junior School – part of the Riders Federation – will be amalgamated with nearby secondary school Park Community School from September 2026 - creating an all-through school for children aged four to 16.
The decision was made by Councillor Roz Chadd, Hampshire County Council’s cabinet lead member for children’s services, at her Decision Day on Tuesday (February 24) and follows a four-week statutory consultation which gathered feedback on the proposal at the end of last year, at the request of the schools’ governing bodies.
The merger with Park Community School, which has been rated by Ofsted as ‘Good’ since 2017, has been agreed to provide a range of positive opportunities for the Riders Federation, which has ‘Requires Improvement’ Ofsted judgements for both the infant and junior schools.
The Riders schools have also seen a decline in pupil numbers over several years and while their budgets are currently stable, school funding is directly linked to the number of pupils and as a result it could face budget pressures in the future.
Councillor Chadd said: “Thank you to those who have shared their views with us, both during the recent statutory consultation and at earlier informal public consultations. I have thoroughly reviewed and considered both the feedback received, and the challenging position currently facing the Riders Federation, and am confident that an amalgamation will bring significant benefits for local families and ensure a more financially sustainable and efficient arrangement moving forward.
“We will continue to work closely with the schools to ensure a smooth transition for both children and staff as we head towards the new academic year in September.”
As well as offering greater long-term stability, an all-through school will also remove the need for pupils to move between schools at different key stages. The council said that this will provide a consistent educational approach from age four to 16 and enable staff to build and maintain strong engagement with them and their families over this much longer period of time.
It also said that staff and pupils will also benefit from a wider range of resources, further strengthening the overall teaching quality and improving children’s outcomes.
Following Councillor Chadd’s decision, the Riders Federation will no longer operate from September, and the age range of Park Community School will be extended to cater for children from Reception through to Year 11. The County Council will work with the schools to ensure that all appropriate training, knowledge and skills are in place to design and deliver an effective curriculum across the newly extended age range.
The new school will operate across both the Riders and Park Community sites, with primary provision remaining on the Riders site. Phoenix Preschool, which currently operates on the Riders site, will remain where it is.
Visit Hampshire County Council’s website for full details of the decision.