A SCHOOL in Gerrards Cross will gradually phase out Year 7 and 8 over the next few years to enhance the education of children from the age of four to 11.

Gayhurst School, in Bull Lane, is implementing the changes to keep the school at the forefront of education, they say.

In plans recently published, school governors outlined their proposal on ‘consolidating success’ over the next six years.

The school believes that through increasing the intake for younger years, whilst gradually phasing out Year 7 in September 2017 and Year 8 in 2018, they can focus more closely and provide a better environment for learning.

Chair of Governors, Caroline Shorten-Conn, said: “Gayhurst has a history of being a well-managed school, confident enough to lead the way with initiatives that it believes will improve the school for all those involved in it – pupils, their families and staff alike.

“‘Consolidating Success’ is the result of an extensive strategic review and we are confident that the benefits of being a more tightly focused school will become apparent early in the next few years.”

They added, the changes are intended to provide the best possible future for the school’s pupils and a top environment for teachers seeking to pursue their careers.

Central to the changes is the decision to focus Gayhurst on providing best in class co-education from reception to Year 6.

All the school’s resources will be applied to these years and the intake will increase to meet demand for these places that cannot currently be met with the existing structure.