Public meeting - Thursday 2nd October 2025 at 6pm at Middleham CE Primary School

Proposals by the federated governing board to restructure the federation into separate infant and junior schools – with Spennithorne Church of England (VC) Primary School becoming an infant school (with an age range of 4-7) and Middleham Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School becoming a junior school (with an age range of 7-11) from September 2026

Spennithorne Church of England (VC) and Middleham Church of England (VA) 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 North Yorkshire Council to restructure the federation by changing the age ranges of both schools.

The federated governing board and North Yorkshire Council have agreed to consult stakeholders on a proposal to create separate infant and junior schools serving children aged 4 to 11, from 1 September 2026. Spennithorne Church of England (VC) Primary School would become an infant school with an age range of 4-7 years and Middleham Church of England (VA) Primary School would become a junior school with an age range of 7-11 years.

The federated governing board has also requested that the category of Spennithorne Church of England School is changed from Voluntary Controlled (VC) to Voluntary Aided (VA) as part of these school organisation proposals.

It is proposed that the two schools will restructure from 1 September 2026 and that the newly organised schools will subsequently be called Spennithorne Church of England (VA) Infant School and Middleham Church of England (VA) Junior School.

Please take time to look at the proposals, and then send us your views by the closing date on 7 November 2025. We look forward to hearing from you.

There will be a public meeting on:

Thursday 2nd October 2025 at 6pm at

Middleham CE Primary School, Park Lane, Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4QX