Parents, carers, school staff, governors and residents are being invited to have their say on proposals to reshape infant, junior and primary education in parts of Portsmouth.

The plans affect eight city schools from September 2028 and respond to changing pupil numbers by creating clearer education journeys, making better use of school buildings and resources, and supporting schools’ long-term sustainability. The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education has now agreed that the proposals should go out for consultation.

The proposals include merging Southsea Infant School and Craneswater Junior School to create a two-form-entry primary school, which would eventually be based on the Craneswater site. The Southsea Infant School building would be retained.

Bramble, Cumberland and Manor Infant Schools would become one-form-entry primary schools, allowing children who start there from September 2028 to remain at the same school until they move to secondary school.

The plans would also align admissions at Fernhurst Junior School with Devonshire Infant School at 60 pupils a year and reduce admissions at Wimborne Primary School to 60 pupils a year.

As previously reported, the proposals are intended to respond to changing pupil numbers while supporting clear education journeys and the long-term sustainability of schools.

Cllr Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: “These are only proposals at this stage and could be changed based on feedback, so it’s very important that people have their say. We will take all comments into account.”

The council has written again to parents, teachers and governors of the schools to ask for their views.

The consultation is open now and closes on Tuesday 1 December 2026.

Read the proposals and take part at: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/schools-and-learning/consultation-on-infant-junior-and-primary-schools