PARENTS at Dulverton’s schools have just a few days left to give their views on plans for major changes to the education set-up in the town.

The governing body of the Exmoor Federation – Exford First School, All Saints First School in Dulverton and Dulverton Middle School – is asking families in the area to share their views through a consultation held in partnership with Somerset County Council, which closes on Wednesday (December 16).

If the proposals are approved following further formal consultation next year, from September 2016 Dulverton Middle School will change to a junior school and children over 11 will go to a secondary school such as Kingsmead in Wiveliscombe or spend two years at a middle school – either Minehead or Williton’s Danesfield – then go on to West Somerset College.

The governing body has been steering the federation since previous governors – who backed a ‘no change’ campaign – resigned earlier this year.

“This is a genuine consultation but, if there is nothing new, this change is going to happen. We are not going to procrastinate or prevaricate further,” said chairman Alan Jones.

“This has gone on for too long. The community is divided. It has an impact on parents and possibly on morale. We do need to put an end to all the uncertainty.”

The changes proposed would mean there will still be three separate schools on three separate sites – a first school at Exford as at present, an infants school for children up to seven on the All Saints First School site, with Early Years provision, and a junior school for seven to 11-year-olds on the Dulverton Middle School site.

The new system has been put forward because falling pupils number at the middle school have made it unviable in its present form.

Mr Jones cited a number of reasons for the decreasing numbers including:

l People moving to the South West who do not have young families.

l Some parents taking their children out of the school at age 11 to go to Kingsmead School rather than send them to West Somerset College when they are 13.

l “Three years of procrastination about the future of the schools” which also had an impact as some parents decided not to stay.

“This governing body is going to sort it out once and for all,” he said.

There are currently 69 children at the middle school, 109 at All Saints and 34 at Exford.

“Our first priority is to ensure all families and children’s choices of school and transport are respected,” Mr Jones said.

Somerset County Council would “generously” continue free transport to either Kingsmead or West Somerset College up to 2027, which covered all children in the schools both in this year and from next September, he said.

“There is good news on the horizon. Despite families not moving to the area, the birth rate of those who are here means there will be children increasing the ranks of the new primary school.

“Secondly, when we sort this out and put to bed the indecision of the past, I am confident we will see excellent standards and people will choose to send their children here and to move here because of the schools. I predict these schools will grow in stature in the future.”

Jerry Weedon, executive head of the Exmoor Federation, said: “The staff and governors are fully committed to providing outstanding education for our area.

“It has been a very difficult period but we are excited at the opportunities these proposed changes would give us to develop a new primary education structure.

“Already we are working on some new initiatives with universities and leading specialists which will greatly enhance the learning experience of the children in these schools.

“Once this consultation is concluded we can move forward to deliver an outstanding set of schools which our children deserve, with the aim to give them a passion for lifelong learning and transferable skills for life.”

Documents explaining the options are available on all the schools’ websites or on request. Parents with questions about their child’s school place should contact their child’s school, or email the schools’ admissions officer at County Hall at [email protected]

Full details of the consultation can be found via www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti/DulvertonSchoolschanges.

A paper copy can be obtained from Linda Harris on 01823 356067.