September 2025
Reeth Community Primary and Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary Schools are separate schools. The schools work together in a federation under the governance of a single federated governing board. This arrangement has ensured that good practice in both schools is shared. The federation’s governors have agreed to ask us to restructure the federation by changing the age ranges of both schools.
The federated governing board and ourselves have agreed to consult stakeholders on a proposal to create separate infant and junior schools serving children aged 3 to 11, from 1 September 2026. Reeth Community Primary School would become an infant school with an age range of 3 to 7 years and Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School would become a junior school with an age range of 7 to 11 years.
It is proposed that the two schools will restructure from 1 September 2026 and that the newly organised schools will subsequently be called Reeth Community Infant School and Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Junior School.
Please take time to look at the proposals and then send us your views by the closing date on Friday 7 November 2025.
We look forward to hearing from you.
There will be a public meeting on Tuesday 14 October at 6pm at Gunnerside Methodist Primary School, Gunnerside, Richmond DL11 6LE.
Background
The villages of Reeth and Gunnerside and the areas of Swaledale directly around them are currently served by two separate small primary schools. A single federated governing board is responsible for the governance of both Reeth Community Primary School and Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School and an executive headteacher works with the federated governing board to make sure that good standards of teaching and learning are available for all pupils.
The current structure of the federation was established as a proactive response to the low numbers of pupils in both schools and has enabled the federation to provide sustainable education to pupils within both catchment areas and involve pupils of a similar age from across the federation being taught together in single classes. This means that, although parents/carers select at which school to enrol their children, the federated governing board has arranged the education of some of the federation’s pupils to be in a school other than the one at which they are enrolled. The federated governing board has provided transport for some pupils to move between the schools involved in the federation.
The federated governing board proposes to change the way it operates the two schools following advice from ourselves. The proposed changes will formalise the federation’s organisational structure and will ensure that the schools comply with Government regulations about School Admissions and Registration.
The federated governing board would like to confirm that the proposals will result in only minimal impact upon the way in which pupils are taught in each school and that they will work closely with pupils and parents to implement them.
Why is a change required?
During summer 2024, we received legal advice that the model that had been established by the federation was not compliant with the provisions of the Education Act 1996 and the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 which govern the arrangements for school admissions and registration. The advice, which was partly informed by information provided by the Department for Education (DfE), noted that pupils are required to receive their education at the school at which they are registered.
This advice means that the current organisational arrangements within the federation are not compliant with the regulations and that the federated governing board needs to implement a change so that the arrangements become compliant.
We advised the federated governing board of possible solutions/restructure options, set out below, which the federated governing board has carefully considered.
Following its consideration of the options, the federated governing board has submitted proposals for the establishment of separate infant and junior schools and believes that this option will enable them to best meet the needs of the community and to continue to provide a high standard of education to pupils.
In order that it can do this, we are required to follow a statutory process that includes this period of consultation.
You are encouraged to give your views on the proposals.
Summary of the options considered
The federated governing board reviewed each of the options and considered a range of criteria, including the potential impact upon teaching and learning, management and financial implications prior to reaching a conclusion about its preferred option. The table below provides a summary of the options, the issues involved and of the federated governing board’s conclusion:
| Description | Why was the option discounted or recommended? | Conclusions |
|---|---|---|
|
The federated governing board did not consider there to be sufficient pupils on roll at either school for this to be a viable option. | Discounted |
|
The federated governing board concluded that there would be insufficient space on one school site for the full age range. | Discounted |
|
Utilising the indicative financial model provided by the council, the federated governing board identified that this option would result in a significant reduction in the revenue received compared to that currently received by the federation and considered that that would have a detrimental impact upon the schools if it were to be pursued. | Discounted |
|
Utilising the indicative financial model provided by the council, the federated governing board identified this option as providing the most sustainable solution. It concluded that the option would enable the current efficiencies associated with the federation to be maintained, without the significant financial impact associated with Option 3 above. The federated governing board considered that this option would improve education of children in their peer groups by enabling classes with a narrower age range than Option 1 above and that it provided a more financially viable option than Option 3 above. The federated governing board noted a risk arising from the Home to School Transport Policy such that, if a joint catchment area is served, then for some pupils the infant or junior schools may not be the nearest suitable school to their home address for travel eligibility purposes. |
The federated governing board requested that the council consider a number of linked proposals arising from their conclusion and, if approved, to undertake the required statutory process to enable them to be implemented. |
The federated governing board’s proposal
After careful consideration of all the options, the federated governing board requested that we consult on their proposal to restructure the federation into separate infant and junior schools.
The federated governing board’s proposal is:
- that the age range of Reeth Community Primary School be changed to 3 to 7 and that the school becomes Reeth Community Infant School
- that the age range of Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School be changed to 7 to 11 and that the school becomes Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Junior School
- that the schools would have a shared catchment area, comprising an amalgamation of the existing schools’ current catchment areas
- the local authority approves through its discretion a ‘nearest gate in the federation’ policy for home school transport, which would be conditional upon the federation continuing to provide support with inter-school transport where that is required
- to establish a Published Admissions Number (PAN) of 15 at each of the two schools
- that the proposal be implemented from 1 September 2026
The federated governing board have confirmed their intention to continue to operate as a federation. This will ensure that they continue to benefit from doing so, including through shared governance and leadership, enhanced educational opportunities and resource efficiency.
Should the proposal be implemented, the change would take effect from 1 September 2026.
Why are they proposing change now?
The executive headteacher and federated governing board have written out to parents about the changes that are being proposed. The proposals will ensure that the schools are compliant with the regulations and will also benefit pupils by building on the work that the federation has already undertaken. The federated governing board think that learning and progress can be even better if each school is targeted to a Key Stage, with the infant school nurturing early childhood development through play and interactive exploration and the junior school gradually preparing children for secondary school.
How would the schools be governed and managed?
Under the proposal the schools would continue to operate as a federation. The federation would continue to have a single federated governing board.
There would continue to be a single executive headteacher who would provide leadership in both schools. The current executive headteacher would continue in their role.
What would the schools look like?
Under the proposed new structure, children would be taught at the school in which they are registered within the federation. The following would also apply:
Transition
Transition between Key Stages would be marked, since it would coincide with a transition between schools. It is considered that the federated schools would work together to deliver a smooth transition and help to ensure that the good progress made by children at Key Stage 1 is maintained and built upon at Key Stage 2.
Admissions
Should the proposal be implemented, places for infant children currently enrolled at Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School would be made available at Reeth Community Infant School. Parents could also express a preference for any alternative school.
Should the proposal be implemented, places for junior children currently enrolled at Reeth Community Primary School would be made available at Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Junior School. Parents could also express a preference for any alternative school.
In the future, pupils on roll at Reeth Community Infant School would not automatically transfer to Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Junior School. It would be necessary to apply for a place at the junior school, for provision through to age 11. Parents of children attending the infant school would need to express a preference and when they are making their decision parents could also express a preference for any alternative school.
Admissions to Reeth Community and Gunnerside Voluntary Controlled schools would continue to be managed by the local authority in accordance with its admission policy for community and voluntary controlled schools.
Admissions catchment areas
Under the proposal, both the infant and junior schools would serve the catchment areas which are currently separately served by each primary school. For this reason, the catchment areas would be merged, with each extended to include the other. The shared catchment areas are shown on the map here (pdf / 3 MB). These arrangements would be implemented from September 2026 only in the event of the infant/junior restructure.
Home to school travel
Eligibility for assistance with home to school travel would be determined in accordance with our home to school travel policy, including any decision to provide discretionary eligibility linked to the federated governing board’s proposals.
It is proposed that special considerations or discretion be given to pupils already on roll at the point that consultation was requested in September 2025. It is proposed that we provide discretionary travel for children, already assessed as eligible for travel and on roll at schools on 1 September 2026, within the federation schools for the duration of their education at the schools within the same federation, subject to there being no change in their circumstances. This will enable the schools to move to compliant arrangements and would be a time limited discretionary provision so that children already on roll could maintain continuity of education within the federations that they are already registered, in the event that the school organisation proposals result in them having to move to a different school within the federation due to the age range changes.
An example would be a current Year 1 child who attends a primary school but who is required to move to an infant school for Year 2 before returning to the junior school (formerly the primary) for Year 3 to Year 6 – even if the infant school is not the nearest suitable school at the time of the transfer. This acknowledges our commitment to continue eligibility under the 2019 policy for children in schools before September 2024.
Any new applications for assistance with home to school travel to either school received after 1 September 2026 would only be considered under the current home to school travel policy, unless part of a linked proposal that is decided by us.
In this case, for pupils who are admitted to the schools after 1 September 2026 it is proposed that we adopt a ‘nearest gate in the federation’ policy for home to school transport, which would be conditional upon the federation continuing to provide support with inter-school transport where that is required.
An example in the future would be a Year 2 child with eligibility for assistance with home to school travel would be provided with assistance with travel to Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Junior School, if that was their nearest suitable school and the federation governors have committed to arranging travel between schools so the child could be transported to the federation school they are registered at, namely Reeth Infant School.
Religious designation
Gunnerside is a denominational school. Under the proposal, the junior school would continue with a Methodist religious designation. The Methodist Church plays an active part in the life of the school. As a Methodist school, the school organisation proposals for Gunnerside would also require approval from the Methodist Schools Team.
Learning and progress
The federated governing board has confirmed that pupils would be in class groups with their peers. The proposals of separate infant and junior schools share the benefit of greater numbers of children being together in similar age groups and curriculum groups.
The schools would aim to have integrated arrangements for the assessment of learning, including recording of progress and transition across the infant and junior schools. As now, each separate school would have its own Ofsted inspection and its own budget. With the agreement of governors and approval of local authority officers, schools within federations can continue to request to amalgamate budgets.
Finance
Capital position
Capital investment is not included within the proposal.
Revenue position
School budgets are funded largely by pupil numbers so the proposal would not lead to an increase in revenue funding. The school organisation proposal of infant and junior schools provides the same level of funding across the federation as that currently received by the separate schools with the lump sum funding retained for each school. In an amalgamation of two schools (Option 3 above), one school’s lump sum would cease and whilst an amalgamated school across two sites may receive split site funding, this would be a reduced funding amount compared to the lump sum funding for the two schools.
Federated governing boards can request to amalgamate their individual school budgets; these arrangements could continue under the infant and junior school proposals.
Based on the proposal taking effect from September 2026 and other things being equal, the federated governing board has determined the optimum funding position, based on best estimates of revenue funding for each financial year for the individual schools within the federation. Irrespective of this school organisation proposal, the federation governing boards are continuously required to oversee financial management and this includes considering efficiency actions where improvements are identified as being necessary in the school financial forecast.
Pupil numbers
The Published Admission Number (PAN) is the number of school places that the admission authority must offer in each relevant age group of a school. The relevant age group is the age group at which pupils are normally admitted to the school for example, Reception for a primary school or infant school and Year 3 for a junior school.
There are 35 pupils registered at Gunnerside Methodist (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School and 58 pupils registered at Reeth Community Primary School.
These numbers do not reflect pupils in the two schools, since they are taught together by age group, irrespective of the school in which they are registered.
Based on projected pupil numbers in 2025 to 2026, including pupils from new open market housing, the forecast pupil numbers in the proposed re-organised infant and junior schools are set out below (excluding nursery pupils and based on May 2025 school census):
| Year | Reeth Infant 2026 to 2027 |
Gunnerside Junior 2026 to 2027 |
Reeth Infant 2027 to 2028 |
Gunnerside Junior 2027 to 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | 15 | Not applicable | 15 | Not applicable |
| Year 1 | 18 | Not applicable | 15 | Not applicable |
| Year 2 | 11 | Not applicable | 18 | Not applicable |
| Year 3 | Not applicable | 17 | Not applicable | 11 |
| Year 4 | Not applicable | 13 | Not applicable | 17 |
| Year 5 | Not applicable | 6 | Not applicable | 13 |
| Year 6 | Not applicable | 18 | Not applicable | 6 |
| Total | 44 | 54 | 48 | 47 |
| Potential plus nine pupils from 35 houses within existing permissions and no local plan houses. |
Admission number
Currently, the Published Admission Number of Gunnerside is 7 and the Published Admission Number of Reeth is 8. As part of the reorganisation proposals, it is proposed to increase the Published Admission Numbers of both schools to 15. The proposed Published Admission Numbers of 15 would accommodate combining two Reception intakes and take account of future pupil projections. However, we are consulting on this aspect of the proposal and ask for your view in the response form.
School place sufficiency
It is important to ensure sufficient school places in the local area. Both schools are in the Outer Swaledale school place planning area and there is a general surplus of spaces in the locality.
Staff
A separate consultation process, including a staff meeting, is running in parallel with this consultation.
Who are we consulting?
This consultation is being undertaken as part of a statutory process that is set by the Department for Education.
Copies of this consultation document have been sent to all parents of pupils and to staff at the two schools. It has also been distributed to neighbouring schools, councillors, parish councils, professional associations and the local MP.
Your views are important and your response to the consultation will be published on our website to inform the decision-making process.
Your personal details and those of others you may refer to, will not be published.
What happens next?
If the decision is taken to consult further, then statutory notices would be published in the local press. These notices, alongside the required statutory proposals, would provide four weeks for further representations to be made. A final decision would then be taken by our Executive and, if agreed, the proposal would be implemented from 1 September 2026.
Anticipated key dates
All dates are subject to approvals at each stage.
- consultation opens - Monday 22 September 2025
- public meeting at Gunnerside Methodist Primary School - Tuesday 14 October 2025 at 6pm
- consultation closes - Friday 7 November 2025
- our Executive considers consultation responses - Tuesday 16 December 2025
- statutory notices published (four weeks for representations to be made) - Monday 12 January to Friday 6 February 2026
- final decision by our Executive - Tuesday 17 March 2026
- proposed implementation date - Tuesday 1 September 2026
How to respond
Your views about this proposal are welcomed.
Complete the Reeth and Gunnerside consultation survey
The closing date for responses is 5pm on Friday 7 November 2025.
All responses to the consultation received by this date will be considered by our Executive on Tuesday 16 December 2025.
Responses to the consultation will be published on our website. Your personal details and those of others you may refer to, will not be published.