Archived decisions
ITEM 1
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 21 May 2002.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); Mrs S.E. Allbright; Mrs V. Assinder; Mrs A.E. Bailey; D.J. Belfield; Carol Boulton; P.R. Brown; M.F. Cartwright; K.G. Chapman; Ms P. Clarke; Ms R. Clarke; C. Connor; B.D. Dash; J.J. Dawson; Mrs P.M. Devereux; R.J. Ellis; Mrs J.K. Frankum; J.K. Glen; Mrs K. Heron; Mrs M. Humber; Mrs R. Jenkins; Jo Kelly; R. Kimber; Mrs P. Lerew; Mrs C.A. Leversha; Rev. R.A. Lindley; Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs P.G. Peskett; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; J.W. Stocks; Rev. D.M. Turner; J.G.L. Wall; Mrs P.A. West; D.F. Wright.
Also present: Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.
Councillors P.A. Heath and B.T. Gurden, local County Councillors for Minute 55.
52. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 March 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
53. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Chairman reminded appointed and co-opted members of the Committee that they needed to sign and return their declaration of acceptance of office under the National Code for local government conduct. The Hampshire Youth Brass Band were congratulated on winning the recent BBC Radio 2 contest. Other curriculum awards were reported in the areas of drama and science for the Hurst School. The Committee congratulated Ann Macdonald and her staff on the outstanding way in which they had responded to the fire at Beech Down Primary School, Basingstoke and on the improvements in standards which they had achieved notwithstanding the fact that the school had been accommodated in temporary buildings since the fire.
54. DEPUTATIONS
The Committee received deputations from governors at St. Mark's C.E. (Aided) Primary School, Hatch Warren; Manor Field Infant and Junior Schools; and Beech Down Primary School, all relating to Minute 55 below. The St. Mark's deputation indicated that they would be ready and willing to expand, and to provide for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, should that be the outcome; the Manor Field deputation indicated their reluctance to expand to 2.5 forms of entry; and the Beech Down deputation stressed their school's community role, the integration of the unit for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, and felt that their school should be rebuilt on its present site even if on a reduced scale.
55. REVIEW OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PROVISION IN SOUTH WEST BASINGSTOKE
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations on future primary school provision in south west Basingstoke. They also had before them a supplementary report setting out information on salient issues raised by Members during the course of a recent seminar; and a series of seven maps showing the distribution of home addresses for children attending each of the seven schools encompassed within the review. The report, with the Committee's observations, would be the subject of a decision by the Executive Member for Education on 23 May; subject to his decision, public notices and reference to the School Organisation Committee might then follow.
The County Education Officer and Chairman stressed the need to take a strategic long term view of primary education in order to direct investment effectively for pupils both now and in the future. The decision on the way forward would be complicated by the fact that there were falling primary school rolls in the northern part of the area whilst in the southern part numbers of primary age children were growing and would continue to grow. They emphasised that all schools within the review area achieved high standards and a good quality of education. Other elements which would need to be accommodated were a unit for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties currently at Beech Down; and suitable provision for Early Years.
Councillor P.A. Heath and Councillor B.T. Gurden attended the meeting as local County Councillors and both spoke in favour of rebuilding Beech Down School on the basis of 210 places, which they felt was the most appropriate response in educational and community terms to the fire at Beech Down. They expressed doubts at the linkage between that fortuitous event and provision for the continuing expansion of pupil numbers from the far south western end of the area under review. They suggested that other options for use of land in the south of the area should be explored. Councillor Heath declared a non-pecuniary interest as a governor of Hatch Warren Junior School, and Councillor Gurden a non-pecuniary interest as a governor of Hatch Warren Infant School.
The Committee first debated whether the reserved site in Beggarwood Lane was suitable for the provision of a primary school. They felt that the site was too small, and whatever the architectural design there would be insufficient space for hard play courts and playing field areas. Further land on the opposite side of a proposed cycle way would be required in order to provide an adequate site area. The Committee was therefore firmly of the view that the Beggarwood Lane site was unsuitable.
The Committee then went on to consider whether Beech Down Primary School should be rebuilt on its present site, either with its present capacity of 300 or on a reduced scale of 210 places. Members recognised that no case could be made for retaining the current size of school, since that would lead to an unacceptable number of surplus places concentrated in the northern part of the review area. However a majority expressed the view that there were community reasons for rebuilding Beech Down with 210 places.
The Committee then went on to consider what their preferred option would be in the event that it was decided to close Beech Down. No support was expressed for the option to increase capacity at the Manor Field Schools to 2.5 forms of entry in each case. Views were divided on the possibility of increasing capacity from 420 places to 630 places at St. Mark's C.E. (Aided) Primary School, together with the relocation there of the unit for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties; and a modest extension to provide one extra classroom and ancillary facilities at Chalk Ridge Primary School.
RESOLVED:
That the Committee expresses the following views to the Executive Member for Education
(i) That the site reserved in Beggarwood Lane is unsuitable for the provision of a primary school.
(ii) That Beech Down Primary School be rebuilt on its current site with a reduced capacity of 210 places.
(iii) That in the event of it being decided to close Beech Down Primary School, there is some support for the option to increase capacity from 420 places to 630 places at St. Mark's C.E. (Aided) Primary School, together with the relocation of the unit for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties; and also for a modest extension at Chalk Ridge Primary School. No support was expressed for the option to increase capacity at the Manor Field Infant and Junior Schools to 2.5 forms of entry.
56. ADULT LEARNING PLAN
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing the Adult Learning Plan. This would be the subject of decision by the Executive Member for Education on 23 May, who would recommend adoption of the Plan to the County Council in July. Members congratulated the officers on achieving the necessary core funding from the Learning and Skills Council. They were satisfied with the Plan and commended it to the Executive Member for Education and the County Council for approval.
57. DRAFT SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out the draft School Organisation Plan. The report would be the subject of a decision by the Executive Member for Education on 23 May; once agreed, there would be a period of consultation following which it would be submitted to the School Organisation Committee for approval. Members asked for a report on Education Other Than at School (EOTAS) at a future meeting. In considering the report Members noted in particular the graph on page 31, which showed continual gradual decline in primary school numbers over the next 10 years, and by a corresponding gradual fall in secondary pupil numbers from 2004/05 onwards. That would require careful forward planning to avoid excessive numbers of surplus places in the future. The Committee was satisfied with the document and therefore commended the draft School Organisation Plan 2002/03-2006/07 to the Executive Member for Education, for publication and consultation.
58. DFES CONSULTATIONS : 14-19 GREEN PAPER "EXTENDING OPPORTUNITIES, RAISING STANDARDS"
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the County Council's proposed response to the Green Paper. Among the suggestions made by Members were:
· Some acknowledgement that the DfES had recognised concerns already raised by Hampshire, for instance funding and school performance.
· The undue pressure being placed on young people through the numbers of examinations which they now have to sit, without any appreciable breaks between them.
· Strong endorsement of parity between vocational, technical and academic courses.
· Concern at the devaluation of GCSEs.
· The fact that there was still too much stress on the GCSE performance tables.
· The need to develop recognition and understanding of a range of qualifications and certificates which were meaningful to and recognised by young people and employers as the basis for career choices and employment opportunities.
· Welcome for the fact that young people are being encouraged to respond directly to DfES on the issues raised by the Green Paper.
In general terms the Committee endorsed the terms of the draft response set out in Appendix 1.
59. COMBATING RACIAL HARASSMENT: ANNUAL REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) detailing racial incidents in the County for the calendar year 2001, compared with 2000. Members welcomed the fact that almost all schools were now responding. They noted the possible linkage between racial diversity issues and citizenship, which would form part of the key stage 3 curriculum from September 2002. Members felt there was still scope for more cross-cultural experience to be promoted, in order more adequately to reflect the diversity of a multi-cultural and multi-racial society.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the work of schools and teachers be commended.
(ii) That all schools be reminded of the need to monitor racial incidents and make a return to the Local Education Authority as required by the Home Office Code of Practice.
(iii) That a report based on the 2001 data be sent to all schools.
(iv) That those schools not making a return between two and four years be written to separately to inform them of the established good practice and legal obligations, the names of such schools to be passed to County Councillors.
(v) That secondary schools in particular be reminded of their obligations.
(vi) That a new system for making more effective use of IT for returns be supported and encouraged in all schools.
60. SCOPING REPORT FOR BEST VALUE REVIEW OF THE EDUCATION WELFARE SERVICE
The Committee considered reports of the Chief Executive and the County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the Best Value Review of the Education Welfare Service.
RESOLVED:
That the approach to the review as set out in the reports be agreed.
61. IMPLEMENTING CONNEXIONS
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the further development of the Connexions initiative. Following the pilot scheme in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight over the past two years, Connexions would become a local service from September 2002. Members drew attention to the high levels of qualifications required for the proposed personal advisers, and expressed the view that it might prove difficult to recruit suitable people without adverse impact on existing services from which such personal advisers might be drawn. The Committee expressed the following views to the Executive Member for Education.
· That the partnership work of the County Council with the South Central Connexions Partnership be endorsed.
· That the impact and pressure upon existing services as their work integrates with Connexions be monitored.
· That support be given to the work of County Council services with schools and other organisations in implementing Connexions across the County.
· That member participation in the development of local consultative groups be encouraged.
62. CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED SCHOOLS FORUM
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book). They noted that a final version of the consultation paper was still expected from DfES, but in general terms were satisfied with the proposed response based on the current version. There was a general feeling that the proposals might prove too bureaucratic and prescriptive, especially with a forum of some 34 members which largely duplicated effective methods of consultation which were already in place in Hampshire. They therefore endorsed the comments as formulated and accepted that any further views should be sent to the County Education Officer up to 14 June.
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