Archived decisions
ITEM 1
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 20 November 2001.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); J. Adam; Mrs S.E. Allbright; Mrs V. Assinder; Mrs A.E. Bailey; D.J. Belfield; Carol Boulton; P.R. Brown; Mrs E.M. Byrom; Ms R. Clarke; C. Connor; B.D. Dash; J.J. Dawson; R.J. Ellis; Mrs J.K. Frankum; J.K. Glen; Mrs K. Heron; Mrs M. Humber; S.W. Juniper; Jo Kelly; R. Kimber; Mrs P. Lerew; Rev. R.A. Lindley; Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs P.G. Peskett; G.W. Porter; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; K.P.J. Searle; M.L. Sheehan; J.W. Stocks; J.G.L. Wall; Mrs P.A. West.
Also present:
Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.
18. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 October 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
19. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Chairman reported the award of a National Music Council diploma to the Hampshire Music Service, who were warmly congratulated on this achievement. He also reported the grant of £6.6M from the Sports Lottery Fund to be invested in sports-related developments at Hampshire schools. He explained the secondment of John Wilkinson, currently Head of the Early Years and Childcare Unit, to the post of Assistant County Education Officer with responsibility for lifelong learning, and referred to the resultant changes in the Early Years and Childcare Unit. In conclusion he explained arrangements for the despatch to Members of the detailed papers for consideration at the 20 December meeting.
20. DEPUTATIONS
The Committee received deputations from parents and governors of Whitedown School, Alton and the Meadow School, Bordon, both relating to Minute 21 below. Both deputations accepted the need for change and for co-operation; and they agreed with the creation of a new school on the Meadow site to serve as a centre of excellence. They differed on the means of achieving that objective, with the Whitedown deputation in favour of closing both schools, and the Meadow deputation in favour of enlarging the Meadow.
21. EAST HAMPSHIRE SPECIAL SCHOOLS
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations relating to the future organisation of Whitedown School, Alton and the Meadow School, Bordon, and on possible ways forward for the organisation of special education in East Hampshire. The report and the Committee's advice upon it would be considered as a key decision by the Executive Member for Education on 23 November.
The County Education Officer explained that both Whitedown and the Meadow were good schools with high standards, duly reflected by Ofsted. He explained the two different ways of proceeding with the reorganisation, and the potential effects these would have for staff at both schools. He pointed out that, whatever the eventual decision reached, it would not be possible at present to proceed with public notices, because suitable sources of capital funding for the development remained to be found. The Committee noted likely timescales for the reorganisation - with a start on site in spring 2003 and completion by 2005 if refurbishment and extension of the Meadow was selected, but possible completion in 2004 if the option to construct a new building at the Meadow was selected. The Chairman reported the views of local Members: Councillor Filer in favour of enlarging Meadow, and Councillor Ludlow in favour of closing both schools.
Councillor J.K. Glen declared a non-pecuniary interest on the grounds that one of his sons currently attended one of the schools the subject of review. During the course of debate Members supported the concept of a new building to be developed on the Meadow site, to represent a centre of excellence for children with a wide range of special needs in the East Hampshire area.
Their main concerns were the education and welfare of vulnerable children, and a procedure which would be demonstrably fair to all members of staff. They were highly impressed by the dedication shown by staff at both schools and felt that they would wish to retain their skills and experience, although it was not possible to give absolute guarantees that every single member of staff would find a place in any new structure. The view emerged that most Members felt that the interests of children, staff and governors would best be served by closing both schools and making a fresh start with a newly constituted governing body and a new ethos which could build on the strengths of both contributory schools.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised as follows:
(i) That the reorganisation of Whitedown and Meadow Schools be agreed in principle.
(ii) That, subject to agreement on (iii), (iv) and (v) below the proposed new school should be formed from the closure of both schools, to create a school of 140 places for children aged 2-19 on the Meadow site.
(iii) That the new school should have two full-time equivalent places for pre-school children.
(iv) That the new school should have an average of six places for students aged between 16 and 19.
(v) That, subject to the agreement of the school's governors, ten resourced places be established at Mill Chase Secondary School, Bordon.
(vi) That alternative funding strategies to Targeted Capital Fund should be pursued, for example the Modernisation Fund, Capital Receipts, etc.
22. SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE - SCHOOL FOR PUPILS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations relating to the proposal to relocate the Sundridge Unit and establish a school for secondary aged boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties on the site of the former Park House Primary School, Havant. The report and the Committee's advice upon it would be considered as a key decision by the Executive Member for Education on 23 November. The Committee noted the general consensus in favour of the proposals, and it was
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised as follows:
(i) That the responses from consultations be noted as summarised in the report and the appendix.
(ii) That the current Park House Primary School site be developed as a school for 49 secondary aged pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
(iii) That it be noted that implementation would depend on the success of bids to secure capital funding.
23. REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING 2001/02
The Committee received and noted a report of the County Treasurer and County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the revenue budget for the current year. The report showed that, taken overall and based on latest forecasts, expenditure would be £40,000 below the revised cash limit.
24. EXCLUSIONS
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on numbers of exclusions from Hampshire Schools and on the progress made in reducing the incidence of permanent exclusions. Members welcomed the achievement of the target for reduction of permanent exclusions to 152 a year early, but accepted the pressures that these reductions caused on schools and their staff. They noted the emphasis now being placed on preventative or pre-emptive measures, for example, fixed-term exclusions, use of learning support units, and the developing role of agencies such as Connexions, which would all help in keeping numbers of permanent exclusions within bounds.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised as follows:
(i) That schools and County Council support services be thanked for their hard work and co-operative approaches in further reducing the number of exclusions.
(ii) That permanent exclusion statistics continue to be monitored and reported to the Education Policy Review Committee.
(iii) That the current policy on the development and support of effective strategies to reduce further permanent exclusions be endorsed whilst acknowledging that DfES changes will further reduce the County Council's ability to influence, directly, the process of permanent exclusion.
(iv) That the financial implications of full-time provision for permanently excluded pupils be included in the list of improvements to be considered for the 2002/03 budget.
25. PUPIL ATTITUDE SURVEY
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on pupils' expectations and perceptions regarding their education. They have received the statistics with interest, particularly those relating to the extent of access to computers at home by pupils in Years 6, 7 and 9 and their use of such computer facilities for homework. Each school would be in a position to compare its analysis with the County average.
26. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
It was noted that, because of volume of business, the next two meetings of the Education Policy Review Committee would be all-day events as follows:
Thursday 20 December 2001
Tuesday 22 January 2002
Both in the Council Chamber commencing at 11.00 a.m.
It was further noted that the remaining dates for 2002 would be as scheduled, on Tuesdays 19 March; 21 May; 16 July; 15 October; and 19 November, all at 2.15 p.m. in the Council Chamber.
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