Lister Infant School and Lister Junior School amalgamation decision

A consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Lister Infant School and Lister Junior School ran from 29th September to 14th November 2025. A statutory proposal was then published on 8th January with a four-week representation period.

We asked

Because there is a strong educational rationale for amalgamating separate infant and junior schools and many such separate schools have already amalgamated successfully we proposed, with effect from 1st September 2026, to:

• close Lister Infant School
• close Lister Junior School
• establish a new primary school to replace both schools.

You said

All responses received to the consultation were in favour of the proposal and no further responses were received during the representation period.

We did

In line with the statutory process we submitted the proposals to the Office of the School Adjudicator as the decision maker. The Schools Adjudicator approved the proposal on 13th March 2026. View the full details of the decision (GOV.UK). 

This decision is final and has been made in accordance with the statutory process set out in the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

The council will now work with both schools to implement the decision and ensure a smooth transition to the new primary school. Further updates will be provided to parents, carers and staff as arrangements progress.