Merger Consultation Sep 2025

Why this proposal is being considered
Like many small schools across Hampshire and nationally, Fawley Infant School is facing challenges because pupil numbers are falling. In 2021/22 we had 63 children in the whole school. This year that number has reduced to 24 on roll, with no children joining reception.

With fewer children, government funding reduces, making it increasingly difficult to provide the staffing, resources and breadth of opportunities that our pupils deserve. Local authority projections show that the number of children needing school places will remain low for the next five years.

Our proposal
We propose merging Fawley Infant with Blackfield Primary and Nursery, with all pupils based at the Blackfield site from September 2026.

We will also consult with all stakeholders to take this opportunity to create a new school name which marks an exciting moment in time where the two schools have joined together. This will include a new logo and new uniform provided to all children on roll.

The benefits of the merged school include:

Educational continuity and progression: Pupils will learn within one established, high-quality school environment from Nursery through to Year 6, reducing the number of transitions and providing stability across all phases of primary education.

Stronger transitions: Combining both schools will ensure seamless transition from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, with shared staff expertise and consistent approaches to teaching and learning.

Leadership and Academy Council: Both schools are already led and governed by the same leadership team and Academy Council. A merged school strengthens this alignment, ensuring decisions are fully focused on the needs of all pupils.

Combined strengths and expertise: Bringing together the staff teams allows us to share and build on the strengths of both schools, creating a richer curriculum offer, wider extracurricular opportunities, and a stronger culture of collaboration.

Enhanced facilities and resources: Blackfield has the space and facilities to welcome Fawley pupils, providing access to specialist areas (such as sports, music, and outdoor learning) that Fawley children would not have otherwise experienced.

Wider social opportunities: A larger school community offers children a broader circle of friends, more opportunities to collaborate, and increased chances to develop confidence and social skills.

Staff development and stability: A larger staff team enables greater opportunities for professional development, specialisation, and continuity of staffing for pupils.

Financial sustainability: Operating Fawley with fewer than 30 pupils is not financially viable under the current funding model. The merger ensures that resources are used more effectively to directly benefit children’s learning and wellbeing.

Preserving community and values: By bringing the schools together, we can retain the caring, close-knit ethos of Fawley while embedding it within a larger, thriving school community. This ensures that the identity, strengths, and values of both schools continue to shape children’s education for the future.

What will stay the same

All Fawley staff will relocate to Blackfield, so children will continue to see familiar faces.

School day timings and term dates will remain unchanged.

The uniform will stay the same, though with a new name we will have a new logo on branded items. We will be providing every child with a new branded sweatshirt and t-shirt for the start of the new school year in September 2026.

Supporting transition
We know this proposal will raise questions and concerns. Over the coming year we will create as many opportunities as possible for families to get to know Blackfield. Pupils will visit lessons, playtimes and events, while parents will be invited to meet staff, explore the site and connect with other families.