Houlton Consultation
Transforming Lives Educational Trust (TLET) ran a consultation with stakeholders to gather views on the proposal to extend the age range of Houlton School from 11-18 years to 4-18 years.
Consultation process
The consultation ran from Monday 13 January 2025 to Friday 7 February 2025.
The consultation sought direct responses from:
- The local authority
- Neighbouring local authorities
- Parents of children who attend Houlton School
- Parents in the area
- Primary, secondary, alternative provision, special schools, sixth forms and FE colleges in the area, and those in neighbouring local authority areas.
The above consultees were emailed directly on the first day of the consultation to make them aware and to signpost them to further information.
Information relating to the consultation and the proposed change in age range was shared via Houlton School’s and TLET’s websites for the duration of the consultation period. Signposting was included on TLET’s intranet for staff and a press release was also issued during the consultation period to publicise it more widely within the local area. To access a copy of these, please click here and here. Furthermore, the Department for Education (DfE) was made aware of the consultation and signposted to the relevant details.
A copy of the website content can be found in Appendix 1 at the bottom of this page.
During the consultation period we received 302 visits to the consultation pages on Houlton School’s and TLET’s websites and 129 views to the relevant section on our intranet.
Responses
Responses were directed to a dedicated email address (consultation@tlet.org.uk).
Ten respondents submitted responses about nine aspects relating to the proposal, and of which two respondents were opposed to the proposal.
A further response was received from Warwickshire Local Authority, which supported the need for additional primary school places in the area that Houlton School serves.
|
Aspect |
Query summary |
Response |
|
Parking / traffic |
Three responses queried the impact on traffic congestion around the school site at the start and end of the school day. Respondents recognise that this is already a problem. |
Traffic and congestion are common concerns for most schools. Warwickshire Highways have been a key partner during the design and planning phase, and their views are sought directly in the planning consultation for the building works. Furthermore, all plans for the primary provision building, and its infrastructure such as parking, meet Warwickshire Highways requirements. Further consultation on highways forms part of the planning application with Rugby Borough Council. |
|
Admissions |
Three responses queried the admissions arrangements, seeking clarity on the intended admissions criteria for the primary provision, as well how this will affect admissions arrangements for those seeking a place at Houlton School in Year 7. |
Admissions arrangements for the primary provision will be developed with Warwickshire Local Authority following approval from the Department for Education. These will be consulted on. As an ‘all through’ school, children who attend the primary provision will receive priority for a secondary place in Year 7, but the number of places overall will be significantly more in Year 7, which will provide places to local children who have not attended the primary provision. The primary provision intends to open one year group per year, starting with Reception, mirroring the roll-out of the existing year groups at Houlton School. |
|
Building works |
Three responses sought clarity on the additional building works and the impact construction might have on current pupils. |
A purpose-designed new building will be added to the west of the Houlton School site to add sufficient accommodation and facilities for primary aged children. This will be managed by Urban&Civic, Houlton’s master developer, and a building contractor, who will deliver the build and, when completed, hand it over to TLET. Noise transfer is an integral consideration in the design process of any school-based building works. Just as with any busy school site, noise transfer cannot be completely eliminated. Our architects have worked with industry specialists to minimise noise transfer between the primary and secondary provision during the construction phase and after, such as the location and orientation of the new building and its outdoor areas, location of classrooms, type of window openings, as well as hard and soft landscaping acting as acoustic barriers. Careful consideration will also be given to the timing of construction works to minimise impact during the school day. |
|
Timeline |
One response sought clarity on the proposed timeline for opening. |
At this stage, we hope to welcome the first cohort of primary aged children in September 2026. This is subject to the required approvals and, as with any building project of such scale, may be subject to change. We will make sure that stakeholders are kept abreast of the timeline. |
|
Staffing & space |
Two responses sought clarity on the leadership and staffing capacity. |
The staffing body at Houlton School will remain as one team, but we will be recruiting primary specialists into the existing staff team, including leaders, to ensure that all pupils receive the best provision from the best staff. Where facilities are shared, these will be timetabled carefully to make sure that all children have appropriate access. |
|
Impact on existing provision |
Two responses sought reassurance that current provision would not be adversely affected, especially for exam year groups and school finances. |
Houlton School’s leaders are involved at all stages, but TLET’s central team assume the day-to-day responsibility of the project, freeing Mr McCulley and his team to focus on the pupils and staff already at Houlton School. As we approach the opening of the primary provision, we will recruit additional staff to ensure that the quality of our offer at Houlton School remains strong. Growth funding will be provided for the primary provision from the Local Authority until all year groups in the school are open. |
|
Wellbeing and SEND |
One respondent questioned Houlton School’s track record of supporting children with additional needs. |
Houlton School, and TLET, are committed to supporting the needs of all children. Our high aspirations for all pupils, including those with SEND, was praised by Ofsted in their most recent inspection of the school. We will always look at how we can further embed best practice. |
|
Process |
One respondent questioned whether the clarity and transparency used to agree the future governance and management arrangements for the all through school was correct and appropriate. |
During the development of the proposals, Urban&Civic and TLET has engaged extensively with the DfE and other stakeholders, including the Local Authority, to ensure all plans adhere to their guidance and policy. Meetings have also taken place with local primaries to explore how best the provision can complement existing provision for the Houlton development. |
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Other |
One respondent queried how school policies will work within an all through setting’. |
Many of Houlton School’s current policies are those that apply to all schools in TLET, including primary schools. These will continue to apply in the ‘all through’ school. All school policies are regularly reviewed to ensure they are fit for purpose and involving school leaders and governors. This established process will make sure that Houlton School’s policies remain compliant and relevant in the future. |
Public Event
On Tuesday 11 February 2025, shortly after our consultation period closed, Urban&Civic held a public information event about the building proposal at Houlton School. An open invitation was extended to the Rugby community, and neighbouring communities, for this event and representatives from the general public, existing and prospective parents, TLET staff, and local school leaders attended.
TLET leaders supported this event and heard directly from those who attended who were positive about the plans.
Feedback at the event highlighted how local parents were keen on the all through model and how this will ease transition between primary and secondary phases. They were also positive about the range of facilities an all through school offers its pupils as well as the long term commitment families can make to one school during their child’s education.
A local primary school leader who attended the event queried the impact adding more primary school places in the area may have on admission numbers in neighbouring schools. This highlighted the importance of our ongoing discussions with the Local Authority, who determine the number of places required over time, and how they have confirmed the need for additional primary places on the Houlton development by 2026. We will continue this partnership with the Local Authority as well as our ongoing relationship with local schools.
What next?
TLET’s Trust Board will consider the consultation summary and use it to help inform how they choose to proceed with the proposal. Should the Board determine to move ahead with the proposal, an application will be made to the DfE seeking their approval.
We are committed to ongoing engagement with the community as a Trust and will make sure that we are regularly sharing information and seeking views.
Appendix 1 – Copy of website content
A consultation has been launched to change the age range of Houlton School, so it can support, nurture, and educate children and young people from the ages of 4- 18.
Currently Houlton School has a designated age range of 11-18 and is growing a year group at a time since it first opened in 2021.
Now Houlton’s master developer, Urban&Civic (U&C), and the Transforming Lives Educational Trust (TLET) are launching consultations to support the creation of the latest primary school on the development.
It is proposed that the new primary provision would be part of Houlton School, which was recently praised by Ofsted for being “aspirational” and a place where “pupils rise to the challenges set by the school”. This will mean that children will be able to learn on one site from their first day at nursery through to them heading to the country’s top universities and employers.
A new building would be added to the Houlton School site to accommodate the primary provision. It would have enough space for two classes (60 pupils) in each year group. The primary provision would welcome Reception children in its first year, which is anticipated to be in September 2026, and initially may be one class (30 pupils) in each year group.
However, over time it is projected that the Houlton development will need six forms of entry across three primary schools to meet the needs of the community. When demand dictates, Houlton School would provide two of these six forms of entry – with two other schools, including St Gabriel’s CofE Academy, also providing two forms of entry each.
James Higham, TLET’s CEO, said: “This is an incredibly exciting proposal. These plans will give local families a very different offer, and something that will be unique in Rugby and the surrounding area.
“Essentially, each child will be able to grow through their education in an environment that is not just nurturing and familiar to them, but also provides award winning facilities. They will be fully supported on their journey through school, particularly the sometimes-challenging step from primary through to secondary.
“The benefits of this all-through model are tangible. There is evidence to show that it can enhance wellbeing, create role-model and leadership opportunities for children and improve academic learning.
“It also means that staff are not confined to teaching specific year groups. For example, teachers in the secondary part of the school could spend time in the primary phase – and vice versa. This is great for staff development and retention, as well as enhancing pupil experience.”
Under the plans, the primary and secondary phases of Houlton School will sit under the same leadership and governance structure.
The school would be designed and built by Urban&Civic as part of their outline planning permission for the growing community of Houlton, and then transferred to TLET to operate as an all-through school.
The proposal, which will have a planning application for the build of the school running alongside the age range consultation, would see the new primary school building be located to the west of the entrance to the existing Houlton School.
To share your views on the plans regarding the age range, please share your thoughts emailing consultation@tlet.org.uk. The consultation runs from Monday 13 January 2025 to Friday 7 February 2025.
When and how can I apply for this primary school? How will the admissions work?
Plans, at this stage, are for the school to open in September 2026. Just like the secondary part of the school, it is likely to fill up a year group at a time – meaning that we would welcome Reception children at that stage.
Applications would be managed by the Local Authority on behalf of TLET, who are the Admissions Authority, and the admissions criteria will be aligned with the existing arrangements in place for Houlton School. The closing date for applications for September 2026 will be mid-January of that year.
Are all-through schools rare? Is there any evidence that they work?
There are over 100 all-through schools in England, and they are becoming more popular.
Evidence and anecdotal feedback show that there are some real benefits to the model.
Will I be guaranteed a place at Houlton School secondary if my child attends the primary?
Essentially the school will be one school incorporating several phases of education. That means that, should they want it, a child joining in Reception will have a place at the school until they have completed their A-Levels or equivalent qualifications.
How does it work with 4-year-olds and 18-year-olds in the same school?
The existing building at Houlton School is made up of a collection of buildings in a campus. An additional building will be added to the campus for primary-aged children with separate outdoor play areas, sports, and dining, so daily contact between older and younger pupils will be minimal.
However, some facilities will be shared, such as specialist sports, drama, and other teaching spaces, giving all pupils access to Houlton School’s award-winning facilities. There also will be planned opportunities where children and young people come together as this creates leadership and mentoring opportunities. It also will help children successfully and smoothly move between each phase of education.
Will this be disruptive for my child who is at Houlton School now?
While plans are for the primary phase building to be built next to the secondary site, there will be a gap between the buildings. This means that during any building work there will be minimal disruptions for pupils currently learning in the secondary phase.
Will the school/Is the school designed to be in-keeping with the existing building?
Houlton School is incredibly proud of the buildings and facilities we currently offer our children. The plans for the primary phase site are exciting – and will be shared during the planning consultation.
Will there be two entrances, one for primary aged children and one for secondary aged children?
Yes.
How are you going to manage drop-off and pick-up at the school? It is already a problem for Houlton School.
This is something that we will consider and manage carefully, and in consultation with the local highways department. For example, there will be a separate entrance - but we may also consider phasing start times to help reduce the pressure on local roads.
Will there be more schools on the Houlton development?
There will be one more school in the Houlton development. This will not be linked to Houlton School.
Will the school share the same uniform and staff?
There will be lots of similarities across the primary and secondary phase – however, everything will be adapted so that it is age appropriate and there are specialists to support the children through that phase of their education.
What evidence of need is there for the school?
The demand for school places will be driven by the residents moving into the new homes on the Houlton development.
TLET will also continue to work alongside the Local Authority to consider pupil numbers in the county as part of the planning process.