The school organisation team is responsible for ensuring that the local authority meets its statutory duty to ensure the sufficiency of good quality school places for children and young people aged 5 to 16 across Westmorland and Furness.
To help us monitor this, we use a number of data sources to improve our understanding of the provision required, and how it will develop over time.
For more information, you can view the guidance for decision-makers on GOV.UK.
Statutory proposals
Whenever a local authority or the governing body of a maintained school wishes to make a school organisation change to a particular school, they are required to follow a statutory process.
Changes can include:
- proposals to cease to maintain (close existing schools)
- opening new schools
- making changes to existing ones, such as changing the age range, expanding, or adding special needs facilities
We keep records of all statutory proposals affecting maintained schools in Westmorland since 25 May 2007. To view these records, contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.
Current statutory proposals
CAB 13/10: Consultation on the decision to publish statutory notices for the proposals to establish Special Inclusion Bases
We are seeking views on proposals to establish Specialist Inclusion Bases at the schools listed below. These bases will provide additional support and specialist provision to help meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Consultation period: 29 June 2026 to 26 July 2026
- Appleby Primary School, Appleby
- Dowdales School, Dalton-in-Furness
- John Ruskin School, Coniston
Consultation period: 1 July 2026 to 29 July 2026
- Brisbane Park Infant School, Barrow-in-Furness
Further information can be found in the consultation documents for each school. You can also complete the online questionnaire using the links provided below.
Thank you for taking the time to review the proposals and participate in the consultation. We welcome your feedback and look forward to hearing your views.
More details about the proposal and consultation process are in the consultation documents:
Appleby Primary School, Appleby
School Consultation Document: Appleby Primary School, Appleby (PDF , 101KB)
Comment on the consultation proposal for Appleby Primary School
Dowdales School, Dalton
School Consultation Document: Dowdales School, Dalton (PDF , 101KB)
Comment on the consultation proposal for Dowsdales School, Dalton
John Ruskin School, Coniston
School Consultation Document: John Ruskin School, Coniston (PDF , 135KB)
Comment on the consultation proposal for John Ruskin School, Coniston
Brisbane Park Infant School, Barrow-in-Furness
School Consultation Document: Brisbane Park Infants (PDF , 351.97KB)
Comment on the consultation proposal for Brisbane Park Infant School, Barrow-in-Furness
Past proposals
- A review of education in the Alston area
- Armathwaite - change of age range
- A Review of Primary Education for Children Living in the Armathwaite and High Hesket Area
- Armathwaite School Legal Notice
- Alfred Barrow, Parkview and Thorncliffe Schools Legal Notices
- Arnside National CE School Legal Notice
- Consultation for the expansion of places at Beaconside, Penrith
- Bram Longstaffe - consultation on potential closure of nursery provision
- Planning 11-16 Education for Barrow Consultation Document
- Public Consultation - Planning Primary Education for the East Penrith Area
- Change of Age Range
- A Review of Primary Education for Children Living in the Culgaith and Langwathby Area
- Culgaith CE School Legal Notice
- Dale Street Infant and Nursery School and Sir John Barrow Legal Notices
- Dean Barwick Primary School Legal Notice
- Furness Academy Site Location
- Grasmere CE School Legal Notice
- Lazonby CE Primary School Change of Age Range
- Newton Community School - Consultation on Proposed Nursery Provision
- Consultation on the potential closure of North Walney Primary School
- Consultation on the Proposed Closure of Ravenstonedale Endowed School
- Consultation on proposals for changes to how children and young people with additional needs are supported in education
- Consultation on the proposal to provide additional places for learners with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) at Sandgate School
- Consultation on Proposed Changes to St Catherine`s Catholic School, Penrith
- Legal Notice Affecting St Catherine`s Catholic Primary School
- St James CE Junior School Increase of PAN
- St Mary`s CE Nursery & Infant School and Windermere CE Junior School Amalgamation
- Ulverston CE Infant School Extension of Age Range
- Public Consultation - Planning Primary Education for the Ulverston Area
- Walney School Legal Notice
- Victoria Infant and Nursery School extension of age range
- Greengate Junior School, Barrow-in-Furness establishment of Resourced Provision
- Ramsden Infant School, Barrow-in-Furness establishment of Resourced Provision
- Ullswater Community College, Penrith establishment of Resourced Provision