Combined schools

Middle schools in England

Since the Education Act 1964, it has been possible for local authorities in England and Wales to open Middle schools as part of a three-tier education system which cross the traditional primary / secondary divide. Two middle schools were also opened in Scotland, although these closed in 1987. (See Grangemouth middle schools)

After a surge to over 1000 schools in the 1980s, there now remain fewer than 300, in just 21 local authorities. Around half of these are expected to close in coming years. Various reasons have been advanced by English Local Education Authorities for closing Middle Schools, including those related to both pupil numbers and educational standards. Equally, these have often been refuted by other groups and organisations.

The two-tier system, in which pupils remain in primary education until the age of 11 (Year Six), and then go directly into secondary education, is now (2008) in use in the majority of English Education Authorities. Those few which still retain three-tier, but wish to change, often cite the need to standardise to the more common system as a major reason for such change. This system also sees pupils changing schools twice in areas with through primary schools, rather than three times as happens in the three-tier system. Some two-tier authorities, however, still retain separate infant and junior schools, and therefore two transition points.

In the counties of Bedfordshire and the Isle of Wight, the opposition of parents, school governors, teachers and pupils compelled the respective local authorities to retain Middle Schools, although in the case of the Isle of Wight, plans for reorganisation have since been re-introduced.

Bedfordshire County Council will disappear in 2009 as part of local government reorganisation. Bedford then will become a unitary authority, and plans for a change to two-tier education in this area have also been re-introduced.

Proposals for closure of middle schools exist in Kent, Leicestershire, Northumberland, Suffolk, West Sussex and Poole.

Classification

All Middle Schools must, by law, be deemed either primary or secondary. This list shows both types, and these are shown accordingly by a (P) or (S). Middle-deemed-Primary schools normally cater for pupils aged up to 12, while Middle-deemed-Secondary cater for those aged up to 13 or 14. This list includes the "deemed-Primary" combined schools for pupils aged 5 to 12.

List of Middle Schools

Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire County Council reviewed its provision of education in 2006, and brought forward proposals to close middle schools. These were rejected in July of that year.

Abbey Middle School (S)
Alameda Middle School (S)
Alban Middle School (S)
Arnold Middle School (S)
Ashton (VA) Middle School (S)
Beauchamp Middle School (S)
Brewers Hill Middle School (S)
Brooklands Middle School (S)
Burgoyne Middle School (S)
Daubeney Middle School (S)
Edward Peake Middle School (S)
Etonbury Middle School (S)
Five Oaks Middle School (S)
Fulbrook Middle School (S)
Gilbert Inglefield Middle School (S)
Goldington Middle School (S)
Harrold Priory Middle School (S)
Harrowden Middle School (S)
Henlow Middle School (S)
Holmemead Middle School (S)
Holywell Middle School (S)
Kings Houghton Middle School (S)
Leighton Middle School (S)
Lincroft Middle School (S)
Linslade Middle School (S)
Margaret Beaufort Middle School (S)
Marston Vale Middle School (S)
Mill Vale Middle School (S)
Newnham Middle School (S)
Parkfields Middle School (S)
Priory Middle School (S)
Robert Bloomfield Middle School (S)
Robert Bruce Middle School (S)
Sandye Place Middle School (S)
St Gregory's RC Middle School (S)
Streetfield Middle School (S)
Westfield Middle School (S)
Woodland Middle School (S)
Woodside Middle School (S)

Cambridgeshire

There is only one middle school in Cambridgeshire, operating as a 9-13 middle-deemed-secondary, feeding into Stratton Upper School in Bedfordshire.

Gamlingay Village College (S)

Dorset

Allenbourn Middle School (S)
Bovington Middle School (S)
Broadstone Middle School (S)
Cranborne Middle School (S)
Dorchester Middle School (S)
Emmanuel CofE Middle School (S)
Ferndown Middle School (S)
Lockyer's Middle School (S)
Sandford CofE Middle School (S)
St Mary's CofE Middle School (S)
St Michael's CofE Middle School (S)
St Osmund's CofE Middle School (S)
Swanage Middle School (S)
Wareham Middle School (S)
West Moors Middle School (S)

Harrow

Aylward First & Middle School (P)
Belmont Middle School (P)
Cannon Lane Middle School (P)
Cedars Manor School (P)
Earlsmead First & Middle School (P)
Elmgrove Middle School (P)
Glebe First & Middle School (P)
Grange Middle School (P)
Grimsdyke First & Middle School (P)
Kenmore Park Middle School (P)
Little Stanmore First and Middle School (P)
Longfield Middle School (P)
Marlborough First & Middle School (P)
Newton Farm First & Middle School (P)
Norbury School (P)
Pinner Park Middle School (P)
Pinner Wood School (P)
Priestmead Middle School (P)
Roxbourne Middle School (P)
Roxeth First & Middle School (P)
Roxeth Manor Middle School (P)
St John Fisher RC First & Middle School (P)
St John's C of E School (P)
Stag Lane Middle School (P)
Stanburn Middle School (P)
Vaughan First & Middle School (P)
Weald Middle School (P)
Welldon Park Middle School (P)
West Lodge Middle School (P)
Whitchurch Middle School (P)
Whitefriars First & Middle School (P)

Hertfordshire

Bridgewater Middle School (S)
Edwinstree CofE Middle School (S)
Ralph Sadleir Middle School (S)
Roysia Middle School (S)
The Greneway Middle School (S)
Thomas Coram Middle School (S)

Isle of Wight

Archbishop King RC Middle School (S)
Bishop Lovett CE Middle School (S)
Downside Middle School (S)
Forelands Middle School (S)
Kitbridge Middle School (S)
Lake Middle School (S)
Mayfield CE Middle School (S)
Nodehill Middle School (S)
Osborne Middle School (S)
Sandham Middle School (S)
Solent Middle School (S)
Somerton Middle School (S)
Swanmore Middle School (S)
Trinity CE Middle School (S)
Ventnor Middle School (S)
West Wight Middle School (S)

Kent

Kent's three middle schools are all on the Isle of Sheppey. All 3 are due to close in 2009 when a new 11-18 academy opens on two sites at Sheerness and Minster.

Cheyne Middle School (S)
Danley Middle School (S)
St George's CE Middle School (S)

Kirklees

In 2008, Kirklees Council began consultations to close four of the middle schools in a return to traditional two-tier schooling in the areas of Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton and Gomersal.

Birkenshaw Middle School (S)
Gomersal Middle School (S)
Kirkburton Middle School (S)
Scissett Middle School (S)
West End Middle School (S)
Whitechapel Middle School (S)

Leicestershire

Abington High School (S)
Belvoir High School (S)
Bushloe High School (S)
Castle Donington Community College (S)
Gartree High School (S)
Manor High School (S)
Shepshed High School (S)
South Charnwood High School (S)
South Wigston High School (S)

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

North Tyneside

North Yorkshire

Ingleton Middle School (S)
Settle Middle School (S)

Northamptonshire

Oundle & Kings Cliffe Middle School (S)
The King John School (S)

Northumberland

Northumberland County Council has begun the process of closing middle schools, with the first 4 schools closing in the summer of 2008.

Allendale Middle School (S)
Amble Middle School (S)
Bebside Middle School (S)
Bellingham Middle School (S)
Berwick Middle School (S)
Bothal Middle School (S)
Chantry Middle School (S)
Corbridge Middle School (S)
Delaval Middle School (S)
Dr Thomlinson CE Middle School (S)
Druridge Bay Middle School (S)
Dukes Middle School (S)
Eastwood Middle School (S)
Glendale Middle School (S)
Guide Post Middle School (S)
Hexham Middle School (S)
Highfield Middle School (S)
Hirst CE Middle School (S)
Hirst Park Middle School (S)
Lindisfarne Middle School (S)
Meadowdale Middle School (S)
Newbiggin Middle School (S)
Newminster Middle School (S)
Ovingham Middle School (S)
Ponteland Middle School (S)
Richard Coates CE Middle School (S)
St Benedict's RC Middle School (S)
St Joseph's RC Middle School (S)
St Mary's CE Middle School (S)
St Peter's RC Middle School (S)
St Wilfrid's RC Middle School (S)
Seahouses Middle School (S)
Sluice Middle School (S)
South Tynedale Middle School (S)
Thomas Percy RC Middle School (S)
Tweedmouth Middle School (S)
Tynedale Middle School (S)
Wensleydale Middle School (S)
West Sleekburn Middle School (S)
Whytrig Middle School (S)

Poole

Baden-Powell & St Peter's CE Middle School (P)
Branksome Heath Middle School (P)
Broadstone Middle School (S)
Canford Heath Middle School (P)
Hamworthy Middle School (P)
Haymoor Middle School (P)
Hillbourne Community Middle School (P)
Longfleet CE Combined School (P)
Manorside Combined School (P)
Oakdale South Road Middle School (P)
St Aldhelm's CE Combined School (P)
St Joseph's RC Combined School (P)
St Mary's RC Combined School (P)
Talbot Combined School (P)
Turlin Moor Community Middle School (P)

Somerset

Danesfield CofE Middle School (S)
Dulverton Middle & Community School (S)
Fairlands Middle School (S)
Hugh Sexey CofE Middle School (S)
Maiden Beech Middle School (S)
Minehead Middle School (S)
Oakfield School (S)
Selwood Anglican/Methodist Middle School (S)
Swanmead Community School (S)

Staffordshire

Bilbrook CofE Middle School (S)
Brewood CE Middle School (S)
Christ Church CE Middle School (S)
Churnet View Middle School (S)
Codsall Middle School (S)
James Bateman Junior High School (S)
Oldfields Hall Middle School (S)
Penkridge Middle School (S)
Perton Middle School (S)
Ryecroft CE Middle School (S)
St Edwards CE Middle School (S)
Walton Priory Middle School (S)
Windsor Park CE Middle School (S)
Woodhouse Middle School (S)

Suffolk

On 22 March 2007, despite considerable opposition, members of the ruling Conservative majority on Suffolk County Council voted to proceed with the closure of all 40 Middle Schools in that county - a process planned to take place over several years. The principal reason for the change advanced by the Council is the necessity of raising education standards throughout the county; although to many observers it is politically and finance-driven. As at August 2008, it appears that a number of school sites will be "earmarked" for sale as building land to private developers. The possible extent of loss of community and other facilities such as playing fields is, as yet, unclear.

However, controversy remains over the consultation process and the validity of the interpretation of the data used to inform the decision. The second phase of area-by-area (beginning with Lowestoft-Haverhill) consultation on the proposed changes began in June 2007.

It is notable that the abolition of middle schools in Suffolk will also give rise to significant changes in both the primary and secondary school systems in three-tier areas. Such changes include the proposed closure of certain primary schools and the removal of sixth-form education from secondary schools into sixth-form "centres". These wider implications received little attention or discussion in the original Schools Organisation Review, upon which the decision to abolish middle schools in Suffolk was taken, and are only now coming to light.

All Saints CE Middle School (S)
Bacton Community Middle School (S)
Beccles Middle School (S)
Beyton Middle School (S)
Blackbourne CE Middle School (S)
Breckland Middle School (S)
Bungay Middle School (S)
Castle Hill Middle School]] (S)
Chalkstone Middle School (S)
Clare Middle School (S)
College Heath Middle School (S)
Combs Middle School (S)
Elm Tree Middle School (S)
Foxborough Middle School (S)
Gisleham Middle School (S)
Great Cornard Middle School (S)
Halesworth Middle School (S)
Hardwick Middle School (S)
Horringer Court Middle School (S)
Howard Middle School (S)
Ixworth Middle School (S)
Kirkley Middle School (S)
Leiston Middle School (S)
Lothingland Middle School (S)
Needham Market Middle School (S)
Pakefield Middle School (S)
Parkway Middle School (S)
Riverside Middle School (S)
Roman Hill Middle School (S)
Saxmundham Middle School (S)
Scaltback Middle School (S)
St. Felix CE Middle School (S) Note: This school's buildings were destroyed by arson on 5th August 2008.
St. James Middle School, Suffolk|St James CE Middle School (S)
St. Louis Catholic Middle School (S)
Stoke-by-Nayland Middle School (S)
Stowmarket Middle School (S)
The Harris Middle School (S)
Uplands Community Middle School (S)
Westley Middle School (S)
Worlingham Middle School (S)

West Sussex

The local authority has long made it clear that it intends to remove provision in middle schools in the county. Eight schools in the Arun and Adur districts closed in 2008. Consultation is underway to see re-organisations which would see two of the middle-deemed-secondary schools closed in 2009.