In an exciting development for the education system in Houghton Regis, Central Bedfordshire Council announced this month (4/2012) that four local lower schools will be changing their age range. The decision, which was approved by Councillor Mark Versallion, the Executive Member for Children's Services, will see Tithe Farm Lower, Hawthorn Park Lower, Thornhill Lower, and Thomas Whitehead CofE VA Lower Schools become primary schools.
This decision has been met with delight by the four Central Bedfordshire Councillors for Houghton Regis Wards: Dr. Rita Egan, Susan Goodchild, David Jones, and Peter Williams.
Councillor Jones, the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Central Bedfordshire Council, explained that for the past two years, they had been advocating for this type of decision. Their efforts began when the Council initiated its Transforming Teaching and Learning Review in Dunstable and Houghton Regis, and even before that, during the days of the former County Council. Throughout this process, they have faced setbacks and disappointments. However, this decision marks a successful outcome for a campaign that brought all the Lower Schools in Houghton Regis together like never before. Cllr Jones wholeheartedly welcomed and congratulated the four schools on this achievement. They strongly believe that this decision will empower the schools to improve standards and academic performance, especially at Key Stage 2, benefiting the children of the town.
The changes will be implemented from September 2013, providing an exciting opportunity for the schools and the community to enhance the learning experience and support the academic growth of the students.
However, despite the overall success of the campaign, there was one setback. Houghton Regis Lower School was unable to proceed to the consultation stages due to a lack of funding from the Council for the necessary additional accommodation. This means that the school now faces the possibility of being the only lower school in the town while the surrounding area undergoes significant changes in education provision.
The education situation in Dunstable and Houghton Regis has been constantly changing for quite some time. The recent decision will provide some certainty for younger students, but there are still pending changes proposed by other schools (academies) that need to be finalized and approved. As we have just witnessed, this process can take a long time.
Currently, it is not clear where 9-year-old students leaving Houghton Regis Lower School will be expected to go, especially since the middle schools they traditionally feed into are applying to become either primary or secondary schools. This leaves parents with limited options. It is crucial to resolve this situation sooner rather than later. The councillors will continue to advocate for Houghton Regis Lower School to be allowed to join its peer schools, with whom it has worked diligently on the proposals, as soon as possible.
It is important to address these challenges and ensure a smooth transition for the affected students and their families. The community will remain committed to finding a solution that benefits everyone involved and provides the best educational opportunities for the children of Houghton Regis.
