Plans to transfer young pupils to another campus have been labelled a 'a step too far' - as it emerges that no transport arrangements have yet been made.

From September, Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA) will become Atlantic Academy Portland after joining the Aspirations Academies Trust. 

The shake-up will see some pupils moved from the Osprey Quay site in just 11 weeks to join the main campus at Maritime House in Southwell, on the other side of the island.

It had previously been suggested that the overhaul would lead to a “phased move of some year groups” but, on Friday, parents received a letter from the academy’s soon-to-be principal Jonathan Heap stating that, as of September 1, nursery and reception will be based at the Osprey Quay campus and Years 1 to 11 will be based at Maritime House. 

Osprey Quay is currently attended by children in nursery, reception and Years 1 to 4, meaning the four year groups will transfer to the main campus. 

Children aged eight and under qualify for free school transport if they live more than two miles away from school, however the letter from Mr Heap admitted that the academy “is currently liaising with Dorset County Council in regards to their commitment in providing transport for our students.”

Aspirations already runs three academies in Dorset as part of its south coast district. They are Jewell Academy Bournemouth (primary), Magna Academy Poole (secondary) and Ocean Academy Poole (junior).

IPACA's decision to join the academy came after it received a damning Ofsted report and headteacher Joss Hayes resigned.

The school has also been looking to make savings of £1.7m with the threat of job losses looming.

And earlier this month some pupils in Year 10 were told that GCSE courses they had already begun were being dropped.

In May, leaders from Aspirations visited the island to discuss future plans for IPACA and said they wanted to see pupils in one place rather than having primary and secondary hubs.

During the visit, Claire Addis, principal of Jewell Academy, addressed parents and teachers at a meeting of IPACA parents' forum on the trust's plans for the school. 

She assured parents that the move from Osprey Quay to Maritime House would “not happen overnight” as there needs to be building work to accommodate changes, careful planned transition and preparation for children in place before it starts.

In the letter sent out on Friday, Mr Heap said: “As highlighted in the Ofsted report, the current classroom layout is an inadequate provision to support basic teaching and learning needs.”

The building work will take place in three stages and is due to start in the first half term in September, with a scheduled completion date of April 2018. 

Mr Heap said: “We are planning carefully to minimise any disruption, and will communicate as we progress.”

Portland Town Councillor for Underhill Lucy Grieve said: “The changes announced on Friday go well beyond those outlined by Claire Addis at a parents’ forum. Parents understood that only one or two year groups would be moved initially. However, now the full plan is being implemented this September, in 11 weeks’ time.

“As yet, no arrangement is in place for this large number of young children to be transported from Underhill to Southwell or for nursery and reception children to be transported from Southwell to Osprey Quay. The round trip will add over an hour to the school day for the children."

Fellow councillor for the Underhill ward Sandy West said the decision to move the pupils is "a bad move."

She said: "Think of the extra journey time for parents and the young ones, especially in the winter when it's not very pleasant. The school at Underhill is lovely and access is very easy. I think this is a step too far. The age differences at the new school is too much, it must be scary for the younger ones. I don't think it's a good idea. It works well how it is now and I think it should stay like that. 

"It's a shock. I think with all the things that have happened with IPACA they should let things settle down. There's too much to discuss around the whole situation and there are all kinds of implications. Let things settle down, have proper conversations with the right people before going forward."

Leona Callon's son is currently at nursery at Osprey Quay. 

She says parents were led to believe the move to Maritime House would be phased. 

"I'm lucky my son is still in the nursery," she said. "But I know a lot of people in Underhill aren't happy about it. I think the younger ones will do better staying at Osprey Quay."

Leona believes the age difference between pupils at the new site will be too great. 

"The younger children should stay at Osprey Quay and go up to Maritime House when they are old enough," she said.

Aspirations Academy Trust has a proven track record of achieving rapid and sustained school improvement in the primary, secondary and post-16 phases. 

Three of their 12 primary and secondary academies are already rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

The Dorset Echo has contacted Dorset County Council and the Aspirations Academy Trust for comment.