This petition has been started to bring to your attention the matter of Mytham Primary School and their intention to create a merged YR3/4 cohort for the academic year 2012-2013, which is of significant concern to parents with children at Mytham that this would affect. Mytham informed parents of the intention to create a merged YR3/4 cohort for the academic year 2012-2013 via a dedicated publication sent home on the 22nd June, the reasoning given behind the decision in its simplest form was “We simply haven’t got enough classrooms!” No consultation was had with parents, only with governors and maybe staff that, in my understanding are only some of the stakeholders in our children’s futures. The timing also has left very little time for parents to react before the end of the term making any objections very difficult to be heard. There is an understanding that Mytham would typically operate with a two-class intake per academic year, which across reception and YR1 through to YR6 classes would result in the requirement for 14 classrooms, of which there are physically only 13 available. Currently this is not the case as the now YR4 are made up of only a single class making a total of 13 classes of children, therefore on the basis that the school continues with a two-class intake the need for an additional classroom does not come into play until academic year 2014/15. Despite there being a need although not immediate for a 14th classroom, when asked, according to Mytham the local authority have said “There is not perceived to be a need!” this in itself is somewhat contradictory as published statistics1 show we are in the midst of a continuing increase in children of primary school age, this giving rise to requiring additional places. It is believed that the local authority are aware of this fact and are looking at creating additional provision albeit in creating additional primary schools. Having established that there will be the exact amount of classrooms as there will be classes in the coming academic year, we further the question why the merging of YR3/4? In answer Mytham gave the following statement “There are 3 classrooms downstairs in KS2 and we like to keep Y3/4 together. This is because we operate a curriculum based on 2-year cycles. Y3/4 follow the same cycle. The 2-year groups already operate as a unit and do a lot of team teaching where children and staff work together. If one of the classes is upstairs this is not as easily accommodated.” If you support the concerns of a merged YR3/4 and believe it should not happen for the coming academic year please add your signature below by Sunday 15th July (when it is to be emailed to the local authority and the school):

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