Bedford Borough Council is to convert all lower schools in the Bedford Academy group to primary schools.

A phased approach is being taken.

Cauldwell, Cotton End, Elstow, Shackleton, Shortstown, and Stephenson will be converted to primary schools in Phase 1.

Most pupils who attend these schools currently and are expected in future to attend the Bedford Academy.

In September 2013:

·Bedford Academy will admit pupils into Year 9 as usual

·Cotton End, Cauldwell, Elstow, Shackleton, Shortstown and Stephenson Lower Schools will retain Year 5 pupils

· Abbey and Harrowden Middle Schools will only retain Year 6 and Year 7 and Year 8 pupils.

In September 2014:

· Bedford Academy will admit pupils into Years 7, 8 and 9

· Abbey and Harrowden Middle Schools will close

· Cotton End, Cauldwell, Elstow, Shackleton, Shortstown, Stephenson Lower Schools will retain Year 5 and Year 6 pupils

Cople, Lakeview, Willington and Wilstead will be converted to primary schools in Phase 2.  Most pupils who attend these schools currently attend middle and upper schools outside the Academy cluster and this is expected to continue until places are available at a new secondary school to be built in the Wixams development.

Cllr David Sawyer, portfolio holder for education at Bedford Borough Council (pictured) said: “The new Bedford Academy will open in September 2012 as a secondary school and will be well placed to continue to improve standards and deliver the high quality education that its local communities rightly expect.

"The creation of new primary schools is an excellent example of how the Borough Council continues to invest in our schools and their pupils. The lower schools in the second phase will continue to thrive and we will ensure that additional secondary places are provided as soon as possible.”