Manor Infant School
A New Forest infant school is now a step closer to becoming a voluntary controlled Church of England school after Hampshire County Council agreed to publish public notices this week.
At his decision day on 28 September Councillor Roy Perry, Hampshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services gave the go ahead following consultations on Manor Infant School’s plans to become a Voluntary Controlled school.
The Holbury school is currently a community infant school but has been affiliated with the Winchester diocese for the past five years enjoying a close working relationship with the clergy and congregation of Fawley parish.
Governors at the school wanted to put this on a more formal footing.
The county council and diocese held consultations with staff, parents and other interested parties before the end of the Summer term and a report on that was put before Cllr Perry at his decision day.
Councillor Perry said: Councillor Perry said: “I can well understand the wish of the school to seek to formalise the already strong links it has with the Diocese of Winchester and to become a voluntary controlled school. I know the school values the support it has had from the Local Authority and indeed wishes to continue its close links with the council hence it has decided against seeking academy or trust status. I am happy to approve the publishing of public notices so that I can take account of any other views.”
The publication of notices is required to enable the current community school to close, a technicality rather than a physical closure, and to establish itself as a voluntary controlled Church of England Infant school with effect from 1 September 2012.
If there are objections following the publication of notices the proposal will be brought to Cabinet for a final decision.
