Archived decisions
REPORT OF THE
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
EDUCATION
PART II
REVIEW OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PROVISION IN SOUTH WEST BASINGSTOKE
1. The Executive Member has considered the future pattern of primary education in the South West Basingstoke area, which involves the following schools:
Beech Down Primary, Manor Field Infant, Manor Field Junior, Chalk Ridge Primary, Hatch Warren Infant, Hatch Warren Junior and St. Mark's C.E. (V.A.) Primary, Hatch Warren. He did so in the light of a series of consultations held with all interested parties during the spring term 2002; and also in the light of two other salient factors. The first was the destruction by fire of the majority of buildings at Beech Down Primary School, which means that for the past year the school has been operating in temporary buildings elsewhere on its site; and a pattern of primary school populations which shows a decline in the northern part of the area and an increase in the southern part of the area, and new residential development being completed in the south of the area. Both the Executive Member for Education and the Education Policy Review Committee had before them a full report setting out all the facts, figures and views expressed, together with options for the future.
2. The Education Policy Review Committee met on 23 May and expressed to the Executive Member for Education the view that the site reserved in Beggarwood Lane was unsuitable for the provision of a primary school; and that Beech Down Primary School should be rebuilt on its current site with a reduced capacity of 210 places. In the event of it being decided to close Beech Down Primary School, the Committee expressed some support for the option to increase capacity from 420 places to 630 places at St. Mark's C.E. (Aided) Primary School, Hatch Warren, and also for a modest extension at Chalk Ridge Primary School. However they expressed no support for the option to increase capacity at the Manor Field Infant and Junior Schools from 2 to 2.5 forms of entry.
3. The Executive Member for Education, having considered in detail the views put to him, stressed the need to take a strategic long-term view of primary education in the area in order to direct investment effectively for pupils both now and in the future. He therefore took the following decision:
· Closure of Beech Down Primary School
· Increase the present 420 place capacity at St. Mark's C. of E. (Aided) Primary School, Hatch Warren to 630 places in response to likely future demand for places, together with a unit for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
· Provision of an extra classroom and ancillary accommodation at Chalk Ridge Primary School.
· Provision of additional permanent accommodation at the Manor Field Infant and Junior Schools, to be discussed with those schools' governors.
· Early Years provision in the north and south of the area.
· Replacement of the temporary classrooms at Hatch Warren Infant and Junior Schools with permanent classrooms and appropriate infrastructure.
He also agreed the publication of appropriate public notices to give effect to the above decisions; a statutory two month period for formal objections would then follow and the results would be reported to the School Organisation Committee in the autumn. The total capital costs of proposed development at the schools named above would be £7.31 million; to be funded in part from insurance, about £2.5 million, capital receipt from disposal of the Beech Down site, estimated at £4.5 million, and developer contributions of about £0.44 million, giving a total expected income of £7.54 million.
4. The Executive Member for Education's decision was then "called in" by nine members, representing a quorum of the Committee, pursuant to Part 3:D, Paragraph 1.15 of the Constitution. Members supporting the call-in were in favour of keeping Beech Down open as a 210 place primary school, in view of the long term welfare, social and educational development of the children attending; their view that a school destroyed by fire should be rebuilt; concern at the delay and the uncertainty caused by the review; the impact which Beech Down's closure would have on the wider community; doubts as to whether capital receipts from eventual disposal of the Beech Down site would be as high as expected; concerns as to whether children with emotional and behavioural difficulties could easily adapt from a small school such as Beech Down to a large school with over 600 pupils such as St. Mark's; the likely effect on road traffic and congestion in the area; and the view that the planned regeneration of the Brighton Hill area was likely to lead to a growth in population and therefore of primary aged children.
5. There was support for the Executive Member's decision from other Members who spoke of the substantial investment of over £7 million in local schools together with improved provision for Early Years and special educational needs; the need to reduce surplus places and to target investment in areas where the primary school population was growing rather than declining; and that his proposals represented a reasonable response in both educational and financial terms to the demographic changes occurring in the area.
6. On conclusion of the second Education Policy Review Committee meeting, the Executive Member for Education amplified the reasons for his decision and indicated that he was confident that overall it was in the best interests of all the children in the area. It represented a strategic and effective use of resources and took into account the particular requirements of children with special educational needs, particularly those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. He recognised the distress felt by the Beech Down community at the prospect of such a good school closing, but had heard no conclusive evidence which would lead him to change his decision from that set out in paragraph 3 above.
8FR29702