Trafford Council’s executive committee has approved the amalgamation of Stamford Park Infant and Junior School by September 2021.
The decision comes after months of consultation with governing bodies, staff and parents.
Under the proposals the two merged schools will be led by the current headteacher of the junior school, Mrs Downing. Among other things the decision will remove the requirement for children to move from the infant to junior school.
The infant and juniors have remained separate since their inception in 1905, so the new developments come as the largest logistical change in their 116-year history.
In a statement the committee said the decision provides an “opportunity for improved education standards and achievements”.
It added: “The amalgamation would enable better continuity and progression of children’s learning, particularly between key stage 1 and key stage 2.”
The infant school has largely been supportive of the decision, having advocated combining the two schools since 2019.
In a joint statement Alison Wright, the Chair of Stamford Park Infant School, and Emily DeAbaitua, the Vice-Chair of Stamford Park Junior School, said: “We all welcome the announcement and a chance to move forwards for the parents, staff and community as a whole.”
They added: “We look forward to working with Mrs Downing, the combined staff of SPJS and SPIS along with the governing boards to support the transition over the next term to an amalgamated school.”
There is currently no plan to build an entirely new primary school incorporating the two sites, as previous attempts to demolish the Edwardian building were shelved after it was recently listed.
But according to the committee, “there is ongoing work to consider site options involving a range of partners including education, place development, planning, heritage and strategic parks”.
