Contacts: John Clarke, telephone 01962 846459, e-mail john.clarke@hants.gov.uk Bob Eardley, telephone 01962 846275, e-mail bob.eardley@hants.gov.uk
1 Summary
1.1 This report gives details of the government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, relates it to the Hampshire context and explains why the Havant 14-19 Consortium area has been selected for initial implementation. BSF will bring benefit to all pupils through substantial investment in the county's secondary schools over the next ten years.
1.2 The report seeks approval for consultations on school organisation proposals for the Havant area to be carried out from September 2008 to January 2009 with a report to Cabinet in March 2009. The main purpose of the report, therefore, is to provide sufficient information to explain why consultations are appropriate at this time. Clearly, no decisions have yet been taken and consultation responses will be crucial in determining the way ahead.
1.3 References to the Havant area in this report should be taken to include Waterlooville and Horndean, even though the latter area forms part of East Hampshire District.
1.4 BSF is intended as a transformational process, to include the wider children's services and community agendas, not just education. Schools, however, are at the centre of the initiative and their potential for providing wider community facilities and improving the well-being of children is a major element in developing a strategy for BSF. Long-term considerations are paramount, with a focus on developing facilities for future generations using funding on a scale not previously available and unlikely to be matched for many years. BSF offers a catalyst for development of collaboration in the widest sense, not just between schools.
1.5 When BSF was announced in 2003, the prioritisation of resources nationally was based on deprivation factors (free school meal entitlement) and GCSE performance rather than building need, as was previously the case. As a result, the County Council was not programmed to receive the first tranche of funding until 2011, as part of Waves 7-15 of the programme.
1.6 Nevertheless, it had been hoped that Hampshire might be included in an interim Wave (6a) of BSF. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) announced in June 2008 that the County Council had not been included in the interim Wave. Despite this, it is important to maintain momentum in order to allow programming for other areas of the county to take place. One of the reasons given by the DCSF for Hampshire's non-inclusion in Wave 6a was that "plans (were) not yet sufficiently developed to carry out necessary consultations", hence the need to continue the planning and consultation process.
1.7 Application of the original school performance and deprivation criteria indicated that the Havant Borough Council area should be the first area in Hampshire to be considered under the BSF programme. The well-established 14-19 consortia (nine in Hampshire) have been used as the basis for the BSF planning framework (Hart and Rushmoor form one consortium as do Fareham and Gosport). Horndean Technology College forms part of the Havant consortium even though it lies within East Hampshire.
1.8 This report analyses the various school organisation options considered for the Havant Consortium area and explains the proposed approach to public consultation, in the light of BSF principles, including the need to reduce surplus places to between 5%-8%. The requirement to reduce current levels of surplus in order to access BSF funding cannot be over-emphasised. Detailed building proposals for each school will be prepared by architects in the Property, Business and Regulatory Department when a strategy for the area is confirmed.
1.9 The bid to the DCSF for inclusion in Wave 6a treated the area as a whole. Further analysis has suggested that, for planning purposes, there is merit in considering the area as two separate, but inter-related, sub-areas, divided by the A3(M). All tables in this report are structured on this basis. Treating the area in this way highlights not only the significant current imbalance in the number of surplus places between the two sub-areas but also provides a logical framework for analysis of possible ways forward.
1.10 Two schools, although included in all tables, are excluded from consideration as part of the east/west structure. Hayling College serves a discrete island community with more than 90% of its pupils living in catchment. Although the college is well below the authority's guidelines on size of school, it is considered unrealistic to consider closure and provide mainland education in its place. Oaklands Catholic Voluntary Aided Secondary School in Waterlooville, one of two Catholic aided schools in the county, takes 70% of its pupils from the review area but also serves a much wider area of south-east Hampshire.
1.11 A map of the Havant area showing all schools mentioned in this report is given at Appendix A.
2 Recommendations
That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education):
a) approves the two stage approach to consultation set out in this report.
b) approves the undertaking of consultations in relation to the following proposals:
i) the continuation of Park Community School with an increase in capacity from 900 to 1,000 places for the 11-16 age range, with appropriate catchment changes, located either:
· on the current Park Community School site with access to the community and sports facilities on the Staunton Community Sports College site; or
· entirely on the current Staunton Community Sports College site; or
· as a split site school on the current Park Community and Staunton Sports College sites;
ii) the closure of Staunton Community Sports College by August 2011 at the earliest;
iii) retention of Warblington School and re-drawing of the catchment area to include part of the current Staunton area;
iv) an increase in capacity from 963 to 1,050 places at Crookhorn College of Technology to reflect growth in pupil numbers from the West of Waterlooville Major Development Area;
v) a reduction in capacity from 1,142 to 1,050 at Cowplain Community School;
vi) a reduction in capacity at Oaklands Catholic Voluntary Aided School from 1,453 to 1,300 places to support its current admission number;
vii) a reduction in capacity from 744 to 600 places at The Hayling College to reflect projected demand;
viii) a reduction in capacity from 1,500 to 1,100 places at Horndean Technology College to reflect projected demand;
ix) a reduction in capacity at Purbrook Park School from 840 to 750 places to reflect projected demand and take account of site constraints.
3 Background
3.1 Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a national initiative intended to rebuild, remodel or refurbish all secondary schools in England, including secondary age special schools and education centres, over a 15 year period from 2005. This renewal programme must take place within the context of a locally developed agenda to transform secondary education to meet the demands of the present century. The required approach can, therefore, be summarised as Building Schools for the Future, not School Buildings for the Future.
3.2 The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has set in place a detailed framework within which BSF operates. Delivery is managed through Partnerships for Schools (PfS), which has been set up by the DCSF to oversee the initiative nationally and to work with individual local authorities once they are included in the programme. To secure BSF funding local authorities (LAs) are required to:
· provide local leadership for BSF;
· develop and implement an education and community vision through a Strategy for Change;
· agree transformation strategies with schools and other partners;
· support individual schools in developing their own Strategies for Change, complementing that prepared by the LA ;
· undertake long-term planning of school places across their areas in which current numbers, locations and groupings of schools will not be taken for granted;
· procure and deliver design and building work.
3.3 Hampshire County Council could attract investment through BSF totalling up to £1bn, probably over a period of about ten years. The scale of this investment is unparalleled and the work required to ensure that this is successful is far-reaching, ranging across many disciplines and involving a large number of stakeholders. It is a one-off opportunity for the County Council and schools to make a radical impact on ensuring that secondary education in Hampshire better meets the needs of all learners in a more cohesive way and to modernise provision for the next generation. Local authorities are expected to contribute financially to at least 10% of the overall programme costs through maximisation of investment opportunities, e.g. by reinvesting capital receipts.
3.4 A key component of qualifying for BSF investment is the need to demonstrate:
· a commitment to the Government's choice and diversity agenda; and
· a capacity to manage surplus places effectively, particularly where this involves the achievement of significant reductions in unfilled capacity across an area.
In its booklet "An introduction to building schools for the future" (2008), the DCSF states that "Ministers expect local authorities to use BSF to deliver a step-change in attainment levels by increasing school diversity and enhancing parental choice in their areas".
3.5 The DCSF wishes to see an imaginative, forward-looking approach, which is designed to meet the future needs of learners and the wider community, rather than maintaining the status quo based on the pattern of existing provision. Where appropriate, the rationalisation of school places should be linked to a competition for new provision which could add to the range of available school types, e.g. through the establishment of a Trust school or an Academy.
3.6 The February 2008 DCSF invitation to authorities to express an interest in joining an interim BSF wave (6a) required the submission of a Statement of Readiness to Deliver (RtD) which was sent to the DCSF on 11 April 2008 in order to qualify for consideration for inclusion in this interim programme. In its response to the County Council's submission for inclusion in Wave 6a the DCSF indicated that, among other factors, the fact that consultations had yet to be carried out on any proposal for school re-organisation was a reason why the bid was not accepted. The DCSF also stated that further work was needed to develop the County Council's alternative to the DCSF's preferred Local Education Partnership (LEP) procurement model. Those authorities which succeeded in their Wave 6a bids were allocated capital funding for a maximum of five schools. If this approach continues in future it would have implications for the County Council's planned area approach, including the Havant Consortium.
3.7 In spite of the fact that Hampshire will not be included in the interim wave, there is a large amount of preparatory work to be undertaken to ensure that the County Council is ready to enter the programme when there is a further opportunity to do so. Recent consultation by the DCSF suggests that the criteria for entry to the later waves will be related to readiness to deliver rather than the initial programme entry criteria of deprivation and GCSE performance, although these will still be taken into account. It is proposed, therefore, to undertake a BSF prioritisation exercise for the county during the summer, in preparation for submission of a revised Expression of Interest to the DCSF in the autumn of 2008.
3.8 Determining an appropriate pattern of school provision to meet future needs is a key sign-off requirement for BSF bids. As a lead agent in the sign-off process, the Office of the Schools Commissioner (OSC) needs to be satisfied that bids fulfil at least the following criteria:
· a level of surplus places in an area as a whole at around 5%, and no more than 8%;
· encouragement of choice and diversity in the range of school types;
· a strategy for dealing with under-achievement;
· following BSF investment, schools which are:
- of an appropriate size to meet future local demand;
- able to deliver a broad and flexible curriculum;
- inclusive and ready to collaborate effectively with parents, local councils, health authorities, neighbouring local authorities and other partners, including colleges and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) currently responsible for post-16 education;
- sustainable in the long-term and not vulnerable in terms of viability and potential future closure because of small size.
Discussions have been held with the OSC to determine their expectations in relation to BSF in Hampshire.
3 The framework for Building Schools for the Future
Funding
3.1 The planned delivery model established by central government envisages funding split more or less equally between capital grant for refurbishment work and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) for most new builds. There is a presumption that authorities will set up Local Education Partnerships (LEPs) in partnership with the private sector to achieve effective procurement and project delivery.
3.2 BSF funds are allocated on the basis of future pupil numbers, i.e. not school places, and are based on 10 year projections agreed with the local authority. A floor area formula is also used. It is important to note, therefore, that proposals for the future pattern of school provision and size must be closely related to forecast demand, as the funding formula allows for only a small working margin of surplus places.
3.3 A parallel, but much smaller, funding stream is available through the Primary Capital Programme (PCP) to support major investment in primary schools and primary age special schools. Some £22m is included in the Children's Services capital programmes for 2009/10 and 2010/11 for investment through the PCP initially in the Havant and Gosport areas. Planning for BSF will take into account the opportunities offered by PCP.
Design and procurement
3.4 The DCSF default model for delivery of BSF is the establishment of an LEP and procurement of new build schools through a PFI contract with a private consortium to design, build, finance and operate that part of the estate. In the context of Hampshire's experience of large-scale building projects and innovation in procurement, an alternative model was put forward in the RtD. This envisaged a Hampshire LEP in which the County Council, rather than the private sector, would be the majority partner and which would make use of existing procurement arrangements through Improvement and Efficiency South-east (IESE), formerly South-East Centre for Excellence. The County Council's in-house architecture practice, with its extensive experience of major school projects, would provide a design service and manage the contracts through IESE.
Education vision
3.5 In planning and implementing BSF, the County Council will actively promote existing partnerships, and seek to develop new partnerships, between schools, colleges and all those supporting their work to ensure that they are at the heart of their educational provision. Planned provision will serve children currently in primary schools and in many cases schools are likely to be led by headteachers not yet appointed.
3.6 The County Council believes that the following principles should guide educational provision for all learners in all educational settings:
· there is excellence in attainment and achievement with high aspirations and an entitlement to good progress for all. There is also a commitment to personalising students' learning;
· educational attainment is part of the overall well-being of children and young people, not separate from it. All educational settings should have policies, procedures and actions to improve well-being and should work with their local communities to do likewise;
· schools are learning communities with cultures that promote and support effective teaching with active and participative learning;
· the curriculum is broad, rich and innovative, so that it is responsive to the different learning needs of every child and young person and delivers their entitlement to appropriate education and training;
· timely and appropriate information is shared and used between and within schools and other appropriate agencies to inform effective learning;
· all children and young people are supported to overcome barriers to learning, which moves at a challenging but realistic pace;
· good behaviour is promoted and poor behaviour is managed well;
· the current pattern of secondary and secondary special school provision should be reviewed, with closures and relocations possible, and where necessary remodelled, to ensure that schools:
- are in the appropriate locations to reflect local demography;
- meet the full range of learning needs of their local communities;
- make best use of resources through reduction of surplus places and re-use of accommodation to meet the wider range of community needs where appropriate;
- are encouraged to collaborate effectively with their neighbours and with partners such as district councils, the Primary Care Trust and the voluntary sector.
3.7 Specifically within the Havant area, the vision should include:
- achievement at Key Stage 3 to give learners ready access to the 14 - 19 curriculum;
- improvements in attendance and reductions in exclusions;
- a decrease in the percentage of young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET);
- the nurturing of social cohesion both within the educational setting and in the wider community;
- encouragement of greater parental support for children's learning;
- cohesive support for young people and their families from Children's Services staff and other agencies.
5 Prioritisation of areas of Hampshire for BSF
5.1 Because of its size, with 71 secondary schools, Hampshire will figure in the remaining nine waves of BSF, Waves 7-15, with prioritisation of areas of the county being subject to guidance from the DCSF following current consultation (see paragraph 3.7).
5.2 14-19 consortia areas, which reflect existing area-based collaborative frameworks, are well suited as the basis for BSF planning. They would provide nine planning areas, if an area-based approach remains consistent with revised DCSF guidance on BSF. The Havant Consortium area is the highest priority using the current required DCSF criteria of deprivation and GCSE performance.
5.3 There are nine secondary schools in the area, together with three special schools with secondary age pupils and one education centre. One of the special schools and the education centre are newly built. A map of the area, showing the location of schools, is attached as Appendix A.
5.4 The following Havant Consortium secondary schools and colleges will be discussed in this report. Their full names are as follows but shortened versions are sometimes used in this report.
Community
· Horndean Technology College (Specialist School - Technology)
· Park Community School (Specialist School - (1) Arts, (2) Science and Maths)
· Warblington School (Specialist School - Science)
Foundation
· Cowplain Community School (Specialist School - Business and Enterprise)
· Crookhorn College of Technology (Specialist School - Technology)
· The Hayling College (Specialist School - Maths/Computing)
· Purbrook Park School (Foundation) (Specialist School - Language)
· Staunton Community Sports College (Specialist School - Sports)
Voluntary Aided
· Oaklands Catholic Voluntary Aided Secondary School, Waterlooville (Specialist School - Humanities)
5.5 Reference will also be made to Glenwood, Prospect and Rachel Madocks Special Schools, as well as Woodlands Education Centre and the specialist SEN resourced provision at Cowplain School, for children with Specific Learning Difficulties.
5.6 Officers have visited all mainstream schools and Glenwood and Rachel Madocks special schools; in addition, they attended meetings with headteachers and chairmen of governors on 27 March, 1 May and 8 July.
5.7 Secondary headteachers county-wide held a workshop in March 2008 which focused on developing a vision of the 21st century school; officers participated in the event.
5 Information about Havant area schools
School capacity and surplus places
5.1 Table 1 compares numbers on roll with school capacities up to 2017/18 as required by the DCSF. The 2018 projections for Cowplain and Crookhorn take account of pupils from the proposed West of Waterlooville Major Development Area.
5.2 The South-East Plan estimates of dwellings and population in the period 2006-2026 indicate that, although over the whole period there will be an increase of 6,300 dwellings, the 5-15 population will drop by 4%.
5.3 Projections at individual schools are based on past trends, the number of pupils attending linked primary schools and known pre-school children. The table has been structured to reflect the east/west pattern mentioned in section 1.
Table 1
School |
Capacity |
NOR 2008 |
% surplus 2008 |
NOR 2013 |
% surplus 2013 |
NOR 2018 |
% surplus 2018 | |
West Schools |
Cowplain |
1,142 |
1,066 |
6.7% |
971 |
15.0% |
961 |
15.8% |
Crookhorn |
963 |
789 |
18.1% |
841 |
12.7% |
997 |
-5.1% | |
Horndean |
1,500 |
1,254 |
16.4% |
1,064 |
29.1% |
1,020 |
36.7% | |
Purbrook Park |
840 |
851 |
-1.3% |
767 |
8.7% |
730 |
13.1% | |
Sub-total |
4,445 |
3,960 |
- |
3,643 |
- |
3,708 |
- | |
Average |
- |
- |
10.9% |
- |
18.0% |
- |
16.6% | |
East schools |
Park |
900 |
871 |
3.2% |
795 |
11.7% |
794 |
11.8% |
Staunton |
952 |
552 |
42.0% |
492 |
48.3% |
522 |
45.2% | |
Warblington |
1,000 |
688 |
31.2% |
586 |
41.4% |
539 |
46.1% | |
Sub-total |
2,852 |
2,111 |
- |
1,873 |
- |
1,855 |
- | |
Average |
- |
- |
26.0% |
- |
34.3% |
- |
35.0% | |
Hayling |
744 |
663 |
10.9% |
570 |
23.4% |
511 |
31.3% | |
Oaklands |
1,453 |
1,261 |
13.2% |
1,261 |
11.9% |
1,261 |
12.5% | |
Total |
9,494 |
7,995 |
- |
7,347 |
- |
7,335 |
- | |
Average |
- |
- |
15.8% |
- |
22.6% |
- |
22.7% |
Pupil performance
5.4 Table 2 gives information about recent performance and relative deprivation. Explanations of Contextual Value Added (CVA) and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) are given in paragraphs 6.5 - 6.7.
Table 2
% of pupils gaining 5 x A*-C inc. English and mathematics |
CVA 2007 |
IMD position within 71 Hampshire schools (1 = most deprived) | ||||
2006 |
2007 |
KS2 - KS4 |
KS3 - KS4 |
|||
West schools |
Cowplain |
32 |
38 |
1006.8 |
1021.9 |
27 |
Crookhorn |
43 |
38 |
1008.6 |
1005.7 |
6 | |
Horndean |
49 |
47 |
1005.8 |
1002.4 |
34 | |
Purbrook Park |
50 |
58 |
992.7 |
996.1 |
16 | |
East schools |
Park |
43 |
43 |
1069.9 |
1059.4 |
1 |
Staunton |
15 |
18 |
1008.7 |
1008.3 |
2 | |
Warblington |
40 |
36 |
986.7 |
984.4 |
4 | |
Hayling |
45 |
39 |
999.5 |
1007.1 |
9 | |
Oaklands |
72 |
72 |
992.7 |
1001.4 |
21 | |
Hampshire |
50 |
51 |
999.8 |
1001.1 |
n/a | |
National |
45 |
47 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a | |
5.5 GCSE results - The DCSF now uses the more exacting threshold of including English and mathematics in its assessment of school performance.
5.6 Contextual Value Added (CVA) - The DCSF website explains: "The test and examination results attained by pupils provide important information about the effectiveness of a school - for example, the proportion attaining Level 4 at the end of KS2, or the equivalent of 5 good GCSEs at the end of KS4 tells us how many pupils at the school are well prepared for the next stage of their education. CVA not only measures progress based on prior attainment but also adjusts to account for the impact of certain external factors which are known to have had an impact on the progress of individual pupils. This means that CVA gives a much fairer statistical measure of the effectiveness of a school and provides a solid basis for comparisons. Nevertheless, no single measure of performance can tell the whole story about a school's effectiveness and CVA must not be viewed in isolation... "
5.7 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) - based on September 2007 data, showing a school's position in relation to the other 70 secondary schools in Hampshire from the most to the least deprived. Five schools in the Havant area are within the ten schools with the highest IMD rating in the county. The three schools in the east occupy three of the first four deprivation rankings.
5.8 Table 3 sets out a summary of comments from the latest OfSTED inspections of the secondary schools in the Havant Consortium area. All inspections were carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the Education Act 2005 except for Crookhorn which was carried out under the provisions of Section 10 of the earlier School Inspections Act 1996.
Table 3
School |
Date of inspection |
Summary OfSTED comment |
% of pupils gaining 5 x A*-C inc. English and mathematics 2007 | |
West schools |
Cowplain |
24 May 2006 |
An effective school that provides a good quality of education for all its students. |
38% |
Crookhorn |
16 May 2005 |
A sound school. It provides a satisfactory quality of education for its students. |
38% | |
Horndean |
9 January 2008 |
A good college with some outstanding features. |
47% | |
Purbrook Park |
21 June 2006 |
This is a good, improving school which provides an effective education for its pupils. |
58% | |
East schools |
Park |
20 June 2006 |
A good school with many outstanding features. |
43% |
Staunton |
6 March 2007 |
Provides a good standard of education. Students make good progress and achieve well. |
18% | |
Warblington |
21 March 2007 |
This is a good school where students can study in a harmonious and productive atmosphere. |
36% | |
Hayling |
11 June 2008 |
Provides a good standard of education and care for its pupils. |
39% | |
Oaklands |
30 April 2008 |
A good school. Provides a good standard of education where students achieve well. |
72% |
National Challenge
5.9 This recently launched (10 June 2008) government initiative is designed to transform schools, raise results in English and mathematics and tackle underachievement by young people. The aim is that by 2011, at least 30% of all pupils will achieve five good GCSEs including English and maths. There are 638 schools in England where this target has yet to be achieved. Six of these schools are in Hampshire, including Staunton Community Sports College in the Havant area. The government has allocated £400m to this project nationwide.
5.10 Local authorities were given until the end of the summer term 2008 to prepare individual action plans to show how they will transform results in each National Challenge school by 2011.
5.11 The National Challenge principles mirror those of BSF with their strong emphasis on raising standards. If a school is unable to raise standards, local authorities will be encouraged to close the school and replace it with a National Challenge Trust. Partnerships with successful schools (federation) or with business or universities (Trusts) will also be encouraged.
Pupil movement between schools
5.12 Due to the compact nature of the area and small distances between schools, there is significant movement within the area, mainly from east to west. Although it is reasonable to acknowledge the A3(M) as an easily recognisable element in catchment planning, it is clear that the existence of the A3(M) is in practice not an obstacle for pupils wishing to attend a school in the west. These patterns of movement are fairly long-established In particular, it should be noted that (January 2008):
· 290 pupils cross the A3(M) westwards to attend Crookhorn and Purbrook Park Schools. 30 move the other way;
· Just over 250 pupils cross the A3(M) to attend Oaklands from the Park, Staunton and Warblington areas;
· 300 pupils attend Petersfield School from the Horndean area;
· Horndean has a net inflow from Cowplain/Crookhorn of 155;
· 90 pupils attend Swanmore College of Technology rather than Cowplain;
· There is a net outflow from Staunton to Warblington of 177 pupils, mainly of pupils living in the southern part of the Staunton area.
· 258 pupils move between Park and Staunton, with a balance slightly in favour of Park;
· 478 Hampshire pupils attend schools in West Sussex - 250 attend The Bourne School in Southbourne and 228 attend schools in Chichester. 338 (70%) of these pupils live in the Warblington area. West Sussex County Council has confirmed that there are no plans to change the current pattern of provision in the Southbourne and Chichester areas.
The Havant Federation of secondary schools
5.13 Six of the nine schools in the area (Cowplain, Purbrook Park, Hayling, Park, Staunton and Warblington) form the Havant Federation and work closely together on a range of issues including staff development (e.g. staff studying for a higher degree) and the managed transfer of potential or actual excluded pupils. Pupils also attend other schools to study subjects which are not available in their own school. All federation activities are self-funded.
6 Key organisational factors in determining future pattern of provision
General
6.1 The DCSF expects LAs to plan on the basis of number on roll projections for 2018 and these form the basis of the consideration of each option. There is a substantial imbalance between the average level of surplus places on each side of the A3(M), currently 26% to the east compared to 11% in the west.
6.2 The School Places Plan 2008 (SPP) states that the optimum size for an 11 - 16 secondary school should be between 900 (i.e. six forms of entry; 6fe) and 1,200 pupils (8fe).
6.3 The submission sent to the DCSF in relation to Wave 6a raised the possibility of `all-through' schools, catering for both primary and secondary pupils, usually, but not necessarily, on a single site, though with various possible governance and leadership structures, ranging from separate schools sharing a site to one school educating pupils for the whole of their statutory schooling.
6.4 This topic was followed up in discussions with individual schools. Although some secondary schools expressed an interest in catering for a wider age range, there has been limited time to engage with primary headteachers and governors. This approach to planning educational provision will be followed up as part of the wider consultation programme.
West schools (Cowplain, Crookhorn, Horndean, Purbrook Park)
6.5 Forecasts for 2018, including pupils expected from the West of Waterlooville MDA, indicate that provision will be necessary for 3,708 pupils within this sub-area. If only three schools were retained in this sub-area, they would each have to cater for an average of 1,315 pupils to allow a surplus of 6% and therefore some flexibility for the expression of parental preference and continuing, though perhaps reduced, east-west movement.
6.6 The headteacher and chairman of governors of Purbrook Park School have indicated that, with building improvements, a 750 place school would be appropriate post-BSF, given site and layout constraints. This school is at the early stages of application for Trust school status.
6.7 Oaklands Catholic VA Secondary School also lies within the west sub-area and currently has just under a quarter of non-Catholic pupils on roll. It takes 70% of its pupils from the review area but, because of its denominational character, serves a much wider geographical area, currently from Petersfield in the north to Fareham and the Western Wards to the west.
East schools (Park, Staunton, Warblington)
6.8 The 2018 forecast of 1,855 pupils for 2,852 places at the three schools in this area clearly raises questions about the viability of maintaining the status quo.
6.9 Park Community School is highly successful, with five GSCE A*-C passes including English and mathematics at 43% and, in particular, the third highest contextual value added (CVA) score in the country. The school was oversubscribed for 2008 admissions.
6.10 If education continues on the Park site in the future, the existing buildings will have to be re-built because approximately 50% of the existing buildings are of Intergrid construction. Intergrid is a post-tensioned precast concrete system pioneered in the 1950s and about which a consulting structural engineers' report, commissioned in 2002, notes that "large scale work on the school will be needed, or extensive propping will be needed that is likely to be in locations unacceptable to the functioning of the school". This was confirmed by a subsequent report in 2008. The remainder of the accommodation comprises SCOLA construction, built in 1973 and traditional steel frame construction of 1991. It is likely that some of the latter may remain in any rebuilding plans, although the former is, of itself, quite poor and is linked with the Intergrid in a way that would probably also require its demolition.
6.11 It is likely that local parents will expect the new building to be able to cater for numbers close it its present roll (871) and this immediately throws into question the area's capacity to maintain three schools, since it would leave under 1,000 pupils for the two remaining schools.
6.12 Staunton Community Sports College, which serves a catchment similar to the Park area of Leigh Park (see table 2), has 18% of pupils attaining higher grade GCSE passes, including English and mathematics, i.e. significantly below the 30% level which has been identified for action under the government's National Challenge programme. It is a good and improving school and its CVA scores are above the county average. There are currently more than 40% surplus places.
6.13 Warblington School serves the southern part of the Havant area and Emsworth. Although at 36% higher grade GCSE passes, including English and mathematics the school is above the National Challenge threshold, its CVA is below the county average. Because of the distance which Emsworth pupils would have to travel to an alternative school if Warblington were to close, its closure could be seen as in effect disenfranchising those Emsworth pupils and parents wanting a Hampshire rather than West Sussex school.
6.14 A significant proportion of the Warblington buildings need replacing because over 50% of the floor space is of a system built construction, developed post-war by the Bristol Aircraft Corporation (BAC). This form of construction poses an impediment to large scale refurbishment and reorganisation of the building. For this reason, a predominantly new build project is proposed at this site.
6.15 Table 4 shows walking distances in miles between the three schools in the east. The national `walking distance' is three miles.
Table 4
Park |
Staunton |
Warblington | |
Park |
x |
1.7 |
2.6 |
Staunton |
1.7 |
x |
2.6 |
Warblington |
2.6 |
2.6 |
x |
7 School reorganisation options considered
7.1 In the County Council's BSF Statement of Readiness to Deliver submitted in April 2008 various options for the future pattern of secondary school provision in the Havant area were put forward. These options were submitted as indicative approaches to resolving the surplus places issue, as consultation with schools had not been carried out at the time the bid was submitted. They were intended to show the range of likely approaches rather than specific outcomes. This is consistent with Government requirements for changes to the pattern of school organisation, which require statutory consultation on a specific option before a decision is taken.
7.2 Further consideration of the options submitted to the DCSF, which were also presented to headteachers and chairmen of governors on 1 May and discussed with them during officer visits, has led to a simpler range of options being presented in this report.
7.3 Table 5 shows how the options might be implemented in terms of school size. The proposed future capacity levels set out under each option reflect current capacities and the need for the reduction of surplus places. Future capacities have deliberately been set at the same level to aid comparisons between options. The consultation process will help to refine these. Numbers on roll projected for 2018 in the west have been refined to take account of pupils expected from the West of Waterlooville MDA for Crookhorn and Cowplain, and of the proposed future size of Purbrook Park.
Table 5
School |
Current capacity |
NOR 2008 |
NOR 2018 |
Revised capacities 2018 | ||||
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
Option 3 |
Option 4 | |||||
West schools |
Cowplain |
1,142 |
1,066 |
961 |
1,050 |
1,600 |
1,400 |
1,050 |
Crookhorn |
963 |
789 |
997 |
1,050 |
- |
1,400 |
1,050 | |
Horndean |
1,500 |
1,254 |
1,020 |
1,100 |
1,600 |
1,150 |
1,100 | |
Purbrook Park |
840 |
851 |
730 |
750 |
750 |
- |
750 | |
Sub-total |
4,445 |
3,960 |
3,708 |
3,950 |
3,950 |
3,950 |
3,950 | |
% surplus |
- |
- |
- |
6.1% |
6.1% |
6.1% |
6.1% | |
East schools |
Park |
900 |
871 |
794 |
800 |
800 |
800 |
1,000 |
Staunton |
952 |
552 |
522 |
600 |
600 |
600 |
- | |
Warblington |
1,000 |
688 |
539 |
600 |
600 |
600 |
1,000 | |
Sub-total |
2,852 |
2,111 |
1,855 |
2,000 |
2,000 |
2,000 |
2,000 | |
% surplus |
- |
- |
- |
7.3% |
7.3% |
7.3% |
7.3% | |
Hayling |
744 |
663 |
511 |
600 |
600 |
600 |
600 | |
Oaklands |
1,453 |
1,261 |
1,261 |
1,300 |
1,300 |
1,300 |
1,300 | |
Totals |
9,494 |
7,995 |
7,335 |
7,850 |
7,850 |
7,850 |
7,850 | |
% surplus |
- |
15.8% |
- |
6.6% |
6.6% |
6.6% |
6.6% | |
Option 1 - General reductions in capacity with no school closures
7.4 Under this option, no school would close but reductions would be made to reduce surplus capacity. Table 5 shows that 6.6% surplus places would remain in the area as a whole, with 7.3% surplus in the east and 6.1% in the west.
7.5 In order not to restrict the current level of parental preference in favour of Park Community, which would be contrary to the statutory Admissions Code, and the attraction of a substantial re-build on that site, it is likely that parents will expect the Park site to continue to cater for at least 800 pupils, leaving smaller four forms of entry (600 pupils) schools at Staunton Community Sports College and Warblington.
7.6 Two relatively small schools would be retained in the east and with a remaining 7.3% surplus level it is likely that Staunton would become particularly vulnerable, bearing in mind current migration from its catchment, local demographic trends towards an ageing and settled population and little capacity for major new housing developments.
7.7 This option does not address the question of standards at Staunton which at 18% remain well below the government's 30% GCSE threshold. The retention of two relatively small schools represents a risk to the curriculum on offer. In addition this option does not provide an innovative and transformational response to the management of surplus places. It is unlikely to be accepted by the DCSF and OSC and cannot, therefore, be supported by the County Council.
Option 2 - Closure of Crookhorn College of Technology and amended capacities in other schools
7.8 Under this option, Crookhorn College of Technology would close and its pupils would attend schools elsewhere. Because it shares boundaries with the other three schools in this sub-area and is centrally placed overall, Crookhorn is a good example of the significant cross-catchment movement in the area, with broadly balanced movement of just over 200 pupils between Crookhorn and Purbrook Park, a net loss of 250 pupils to Cowplain and Horndean, but with over 150 pupils attending from Park and Warblington.
7.9 This option would mean that, in the area east of the A3(M), three secondary schools would remain. The area west of the A3(M) would be served by a north/south pattern with Horndean in the north, Cowplain in the centre and Purbrook Park to the south.
7.10 Projected numbers at both Horndean and Cowplain have been significantly increased to cater for the displaced Crookhorn pupils and the effect of a reduction in the capacity at Purbrook Park. With reduced capacity at Purbrook Park, this option would mean that the remaining schools would be in the northern part of the area, with consequential increased travel distances for many pupils.
7.11 In order to position overall surplus places within the 5% - 8% range, capacities at both Horndean and Cowplain have been raised to 1,600. 6.6% places would remain in the area as a whole with 6.1% in the west and 7.3% to the east. However, schools of 1,600 are well above the authority's preferred range.
Option 3 - Closure of Purbrook Park School and amended capacities in other schools
7.12 Under this option, which in essence is very similar to option 2, Purbrook Park School would close and its pupils would attend other schools. As well as the broadly neutral exchange of pupils with Crookhorn (paragraph 8.8), the school attracts pupils (net gain 130) from the Cowplain, Park, Staunton and Warblington areas, as well as 50 from Portsmouth.
7.13 A reduction in capacity of 90 places (10.7% of capacity) would appear to be reasonable in order to re-model the school to better fit its site without significantly prejudicing the expression of parental preference.
7.14 This option would only slightly change the north/south pattern referred to in paragraph 8.9. A 7.3% surplus would remain in the east, and 6.1% surplus in the west, giving an overall figure of 6.6%. Significant increases in capacity to 1,400 would be required at Crookhorn and Cowplain, above the Council's preferred range.
7.15 Options 2 and 3 give some scope for the continuing expression of parental preference but only by dint of establishing schools well above the authority's preferred 900 - 1,200 range. Neither option addresses concern over standards at Staunton. Option 3 would also close the only school currently seeking Trust status - a strategy that the County Council wishes to encourage as part of its policy to support plans for choice and diversity.
Option 4 - Close Staunton Community Sports College, rebuild and enlarge Park Community School to cater for a maximum of 1,000 pupils; re-model Warblington retaining its current 1,000 places and re-allocate the Staunton catchment area between the two schools.
Park and Staunton
7.16 This option would represent the most significant departure from the present structure. Park would not be required to close; neither would a competition for establishing a new school be necessary. This option would retain responsibility for the school within the local community and thus avoid the uncertainty arising from a competition and potentially jeopardising the current high standards at Park which through this option could be extended to a wider community.
7.17 The Park site is just large enough to cater for a 1,000 place school with all pupils being educated on site, although the amount of playing field provision on the site would be less than national guidelines recommend. The Staunton site is large enough for a school of 1,000 places, with recommended playing field provision. There is also sufficient space on the Staunton site to retain the existing Healthy Living Centre, sports facilities (some provided by Sport England grant) and the base for local community education
7.18 An alternative approach would be for the school to be based on both the Park and Staunton sites. For example, the Staunton site could become a focus for diploma-based 14-19 education, possibly in conjunction with another local provider. Consultations would be needed with the DCSF and Youth Sports Trust (YST) to consider ways of continuing the specialist sports work at the Staunton site from which the community benefits.
7.19 Another approach might be for one site to cater for Key Stage 3 pupils (600) with the other site taking Key Stage 4 (400 pupils), as well as any post-16 provision. This would ultimately be a decision for the governors and headteacher of the school.
7.20 If a split site model were adopted it would be necessary to consider the most appropriate mechanism for meeting the costs of transporting pupils and staff between the two sites. This might involve amendments to the local management formula.
7.21 It should be borne in mind that if a school were to close midway through the period from now until 2018, the ensuing organisational arrangements would need to provide sufficient places for pupils attending the school at that time. In any proposal, transitional arrangements would need to be put in place with an emphasis on continuity of provision particularly for groups that are approaching external examinations.
Warblington
7.22 The current 1,000 places at Warblington would be retained but in substantially enhanced premises, thus providing some scope for catering for pupils who might previously have attended schools in West Sussex and provision for a catchment area adjustment arising from the closure of Staunton. .
7.23 Surplus places in the area overall would be reduced to 6.6%, more evenly split between the two sub-areas than in other options. The reduction from the current 26% surplus in the east to 7% would be dramatic, but balanced by the significantly improved learning environments.
8 Approach to public consultation
8.1 From March to June 2008, discussions took place with all schools mentioned in this report; discussions have also taken place with local county councillors and the local MP. The latest guidance published by the DCSF states that "Where the LA carry out any preliminary consultation to consider a range of options, and/or principles, for a proposed reorganisation, this would not be regarded as the statutory period of consultation as required by Section 9 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The statutory consultation would need to cover the specific location and specification of the school in question".
8.2 It is proposed, therefore, to carry out initial consultations during September and October 2008, followed by a statutory consultation on the "preferred option" in December 2008 and January 2009. Responses to consultations will be carefully analysed and will form the basis of a report to Cabinet in March 2009. If the Cabinet agrees to the implementation of proposals, public notices would be published allowing a period for submission of formal objections.
8.3 The four options set out in section 8 have been carefully assessed and as a result it is considered that Option 4 represents the best balance in terms of supporting the improvement of pupil attainment, meeting the school place planning requirements of BSF and managing surplus places effectively.
8.4 Although Option 4 sets out an overall proposal for school reorganisation in the area, there are alternatives for the future location of Park Community School, which would be a key focus of the consultations. Once a firm proposal emerges from the consultation there will be a second round of consultations to meet the DCSF requirement for statutory consultation on a "preferred option".
8.5 During the initial consultation stage meetings will take place with all secondary governing bodies and with staff and parents where appropriate. Primary schools will also be consulted. The views of Havant Borough Council, the Primary Care Trust, colleges, the Learning and Skills Council and other interested parties will be sought.
8.6 The key elements of the proposals for consultation are:
· the continuation of Park Community School with an increase in capacity from 900 to 1,000 places for the 11-16 age range, with appropriate catchment changes, located either:
- on the current Park Community School site with access to the community and sporting facilities on the Staunton Community Sports College site; or
- entirely on the current Staunton Community Sports College site; or
- as a split site school on the current Park Community and Staunton Sports College sites;
linked to appropriate catchment changes;
· the closure of Staunton Community Sports College by August 2011 at the earliest;
· continued operation of the Healthy Living Centre at Staunton, together with the much valued community and sporting facilities. A possible enhancement of these facilities would be investigated as the overall strategy for the area developed;
· continuation of Warblington and no reduction in its present capacity, with catchment changes to include part of the Staunton area, from which the school already attracts a significant number of pupils;
· an increase in capacity at Crookhorn to take account of demand for places from the West of Waterlooville MDA;
· reduction in capacity at Oaklands to support its current admission number;
· reductions in capacity at Cowplain, Hayling, Horndean and Purbrook Park to match in-catchment demand and, in the case of Purbrook Park, site constraints.
8.7 This approach would:
· provide schools of an appropriate size to meet forecast demand for places, including the additional demand arising from the West of Waterlooville MDA;
· fulfil the expectations of the Office of the Schools Commissioner by:
- reducing surplus places in the area to a level within the 5%-8% target range;
- addressing concerns about schools achieving below 30% GCSE 5 x A*-C passes (including English and mathematics) and addressing National Challenge expectations through the closure of Staunton;
- offering the opportunity to consolidate and enhance pupil performance;
· avoid small schools which could be vulnerable to the expression of adverse parental preference and to a reduction of curriculum opportunities. (Within Hayling, geographical demands require a school to serve the island community.)
8.8 Consequential changes to catchment areas would be required and these would form the basis of the special admission arrangements that would be put in place to manage the transfer of pupils to other schools.
8.9 Consultations with the governors of local schools would address the issue of the redeployment of Staunton staff.
8.10 The Park Community School buildings are in need of substantial remedial work. A re-build is seen as the most cost effective way forward. The school's excellent reputation based on exceptional standards justifies a replacement school of 1,000 places, to complement a remodelled Warblington with similar capacity to cater for the 1,855 pupils currently projected for 2018.
8.11 Table 6 summarises the effect of the proposed option for public consultation on school capacities and rolls, showing an overall average surplus of 6.6%. The exact distribution of pupils among the schools will be dependent on the strength of parental preference in favour of individual schools.
Table 6
School |
Post-BSF 2018 | ||||
Capacity |
NOR |
Surplus |
% surplus | ||
West schools |
Cowplain |
1,050 |
961 |
89 |
8.5% |
Crookhorn |
1,050 |
997 |
53 |
5.0% | |
Horndean |
1,100 |
1,020 |
80 |
7.3% | |
Purbrook Park |
750 |
730 |
20 |
2.7% | |
Sub-total |
3,950 |
3,708 |
242 |
6.1% | |
East schools |
Park |
1,000 |
925 |
75 |
7.5% |
Staunton |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
Warblington |
1.000 |
930 |
70 |
7.0% | |
Sub-total |
2,000 |
1,855 |
145 |
7.3% | |
Hayling |
600 |
511 |
89 |
14.8% | |
Oaklands |
1,300 |
1,261 |
39 |
3.0% | |
Overall totals |
7,850 |
7,335 |
515 |
6.6% | |
9 Special schools
9.1 There are three special schools and one school with specialist resourced provision within the review area as detailed in Table 7.
Table 7
School |
Type |
NOR January 2008 |
Agreed Place Number |
Glenwood School (11 - 16) |
Moderate Learning Difficulties /Autistic Spectrum Disorder |
95 |
101 |
Prospect School (11 - 16) |
Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties |
42 |
42 |
Rachel Madocks (2 - 19) |
Severe Learning Difficulties |
62, inc. 8 post-16 students |
67 |
Cowplain Community School |
Specific Learning Difficulties Resourced Provision (6 places per year) |
26 |
27 |
9.2 Prospect School has recently moved into new premises in the Havant area, as has Woodlands Education Centre (a pupil referral unit serving a wider area). Neither is affected by any proposals in this report.
9.3 Glenwood School is situated in Emsworth and is currently being extended, funded by local resources. The school is in particular need of a new/extended hall.
9.4 The chairman of governors and headteacher of Rachel Madocks School, situated in Cowplain, have identified additional space and specialist areas and equipment as key priorities.
9.5 Discussions with headteachers and chairmen of governors of some of the schools visited by officers have included the possibility of re-locating special schools onto secondary school sites. This may be raised further during consultations but this report makes no recommendations in relation to special schools.
11 Corporate Priorities
11.1 The proposals in this report strongly support the Council's corporate priorities relating to well-being and enhancing quality of place.
11.2 They also support the following outcomes of the Children Act set out below, with a summary of how the proposals in this report contribute to their achievement:
· being healthy: (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) - by ensuring that the Healthy Living Centre and specialist sports provision on the Staunton Community Sports College site remain in place and that the curriculum includes the consideration of health issues;
· staying safe: (being protected from harm and neglect) - by incorporating positive safety features in new buildings and on sites, including traffic management;
· enjoying and achieving: (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood) - by ensuring that:
- all schools are adapted to fit young people better for changing curriculum demands and a range of leisure and sports facilities;
- ensuring pupils achieve in such a way as to prepare them for the future;
· making a positive contribution: (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour) - through a curriculum that meets pupils' individual needs and equips them with the ability to manage their lives effectively within a range of social demands;
· economic well-being: (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) - by providing high quality relevant education in enhanced settings that prepares pupils for the world outside school.
12 Legal implications
12.1 The proposals in this report comply with the legal framework for changes to school organisation.
13 Financial implications
13.1 Funding of £200,000 to carry out initial work on BSF has been included in the Children's Services revenue budget for 2008/09. The proposed consultation process will be managed within existing resources.
14 Personnel implications
14.1 Trade unions and professional associations will be formally consulted on the proposals.
15 Impact assessment
15.1 A race and equality impact assessment has been initiated and will be finalised to take account of views expressed during the consultation period. However, the consultation process is likely to have an impact on admissions to secondary schools for 2009 because during the consultation period parents will be completing application forms for 2009 secondary transfer.
15.2 The latest edition of the statutory School Admissions Code (February 2007) contains specific advice for local authorities on how to handle admissions affected by school closure or merger.
15.3 Given the timescale for decision set out in section 9, it is impossible to tell parents now what the pattern of secondary education will be in the Havant area in the future. An advice sheet has been prepared by officers to ensure that appropriate advice is given to parents. This advice, which would be included in the information to parents of all Y6 pupils attending schools in the Havant area in September, would encourage parents to express their preferences on the basis of what they would have decided had this review not been proposed.
16 Crime prevention issues
16.1 The proposals in this report have no impact on the prevention of crime.
17 Views of the Local County Councillor
17.1 The Havant Action Team, which is one of three constituent groups of the East Central Hampshire Action Team, will be meeting officers on 23 September to discuss the proposals. Individual county councillors, including the Member for Catherington whose division includes Horndean Technology College, will be invited to submit comments.
LINK(S) TO CORPORATE STRATEGY | ||
Yes |
No | |
Hampshire safer and more secure for all |
_ | |
Maximising well-being |
_ |
|
Enhancing our quality of place |
_ |
|
Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents
The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.
NB: the list excludes
1. Published works
2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.
List documents here or type `none'.