AT A MEETING of the SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday, 18 October, 2002

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Don Allen

Michael Cartwright

Brian Dash

Jo Kelly

Roger Kimber (alternate Member for Councillor Raymond Ellis)
Mrs. Edith Randall

Dr. John Wall

Church of England

Richard Lindley (Chairman)

Brian Hay

Roman Catholic Church

Veronica Roberts

Mrs Sheila Allen

School Governors

Geoffrey Newsome

Tom Wickstead
Rev. John Buxton

Mrs. Sylvia Vine

Frank Rust

Apologies

Councillor Raymond Ellis - Hampshire County Council

Simon Tong - Church of England

Rob Wood - Church of England

Mrs. U. Topp - Roman Catholic Church

Stephanie Quant - Learning and Skills Council

Jack Carruthers - School Governors

Alan Fender - School Governors

69 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday, 10 September, 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the inclusion in the list of apologies of Geoffrey Newsome, Mrs Sylvia Vine and Frank Rust.

70 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance, in particular he welcomed Frank Rust representing the school governors to his first meeting of the Committee and Councillor Roger Kimber, who was substituting for Raymond Ellis of Hampshire County Council.

At this point in the meeting Richard Lindley was asked to clarify his position as Chairman of the meeting, given that he was the Diocesan Director of Education and the fact that St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School was a proposer of one of the statutory proposals.

The Chairman explained that he had taken the benefit of legal advice and had also received written advice from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) regarding his position. The advice was clear that his connection with the school did not compromise his position as Chairman. It was explained that he did not have a personal interest in the proposal being made which could give rise to a conflict of interest. The only interest the Chairman had in the proposal was a professional one in that the school concerned was a church school. In addition, due to the unique form of decision-making of the Committee, the Chairman did not have a casting vote and could not influence the decision-making more than any other member of the Committee. Accordingly, he was satisfied that on these grounds it was appropriate for him to act as Chairman for the special meeting.

71 CONSULTATION ON THE SCHOOL ORGANISATION PROPOSALS BY THE LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND REGULATIONS 2003

The Committee considered the consultation document on the draft regulations and guidance on the Learning and Skills Council's new powers under Section 72 of the Education Act 2002 (Item 2 in the Minute Book refers).

The legal adviser to the Committee advised that the response to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) should make specific reference to Regulation 21 (page 23 of the agenda papers) and Regulation 28 (page 25 of the agenda papers). With regard to Regulation 21, the legal adviser considered that declaration of group interests was inappropriate given the inherent make-up of the Committee's membership. With regard to Regulation 28 the legal adviser explained that the effect of this regulation would result in responsibility for implementing the proposals remaining with the Local Education Authority despite the fact that the school concerned had changed category, for example from a Community School to a Foundation School.

The Committee agreed that given the length and complexity of the consultation questionnaire, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, in consultation with the legal adviser, prepare a response to the DfES incorporating the above points.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, in consultation with the legal adviser to the Committee, complete the consultation questionnaire on behalf of the Committee.

72 DEPUTATIONS

The Committee received three deputations in the following order:-

(i) Mrs. Katrine Sporle - Chief Executive, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

(ii) Mrs. Glenda Norris - Chairman of Governors, Beech Down Primary School

(iii) County Councillor Brian Gurden


Mrs. Katrine Sporle, on behalf of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council put forward the following option and asked the Committee to consider it as a viable alternative to the Local Education Authority proposal. She explained that this alternative proposal was in the best interests of the local community and would help to reduce surplus capacity in the area, together with reducing the walking distance for pupils. The alternative option was summarised as follows:


_ Rebuild Beech Down Primary School on its current site as a single form of entry, with a capacity of 210 places

_ Extend St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School, Hatch Warren to 525 places (2.5 form entry)

_ Retain the unit for children with emotional and behaviour difficulties (EBD) at Beech Down School

_ Establish early years provision at Beech Down School

_ Establish early years provision on part of the site reserved for educational facilities at Beggarwood Lane.


Mrs. Glenda Norris, the chairman of governors of Beech Down Primary School expressed the school community's disappointment at the Local Education Authority's proposal to close the school which was a good school having recently won a School Achievement Award for raising standards. In particular, she emphasised the unique character of the school and its many innovative projects. She also raised concerns about the upheaval to children in the EBD Unit if it was moved to St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School and the potential impact a larger school environment may have on the children's development. In summary, she felt that the needs of the local community would be compromised if the school was closed.

County Councillor Brian Gurden explained that he supported Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's proposal to retain Beech Down School as a one form entry with an attached EBD unit and early years provision. With the permission of the Committee additional information supporting his deputation was circulated at the meeting. This additional information forms Appendix A in the Minute Book.

73 BEECH DOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL, BASINGSTOKE - PROPOSED CLOSURE AND ST MARK'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND (AIDED) PRIMARY SCHOOL, HATCH WARREN - ENLARGEMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL UNIT

The County Education Officer and the chairman of the governing body of St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School presented their respective cases. The Committee also considered the statement of case for the discontinuation of Beech Down Primary School with effect from 31 August 2004 and the statement of case for the enlargement and the establishment of a special unit at St. Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School with effect from September 2004. The Committee also considered the letters of objection received to the proposals following publication of notices.


The County Education Officer informed the Committee that the proposed closure of Beech Down Primary School was part of the Local Education Authority's review of primary school places in the south west part of Basingstoke. The objective was to reduce surplus capacity in the area and to provide school places as close as possible to where pupils lived. Furthermore it was explained that the proposals before the Committee were completely in line with the School Organisation Plan approved in September 2002.


The County Education Officer emphasised that the proposal to close Beech Down Primary School was part of a long term, carefully thought out strategy which represented a considerable reinvestment of County Council resources for the benefit of children and families in this area of Basingstoke. The proposal also included early years provision in the north and south of the area, the replacement of temporary classrooms with permanent build, and the provision of additional purpose-built accommodation at schools in the north and south of the area to cater for the future demand for school places.

The Local Education Authority acknowledged the achievements of Beech Down Primary School in very trying circumstances and the headteacher, governors and the children and families were praised for their accomplishments.


The County Education Officer further emphasised that the proposals represented a strategic long term view of primary education and addressed the high concentration of present and forecast surplus places in schools in the south of the area. The Committee were referred to the table on page 173 of the agenda papers which demonstrated the pupil/school place imbalance which existed in the north and south of the area of south west Basingstoke. It was pointed out that there was a need to reduce surplus places and to target investment in areas where the primary school population was growing rather than declining. The pattern of primary school populations showed a decline in the northern part of the area and an increase in the southern part of the area, the latter reflecting a new residential development being completed in the south of the area. The County Education Officer also reported that the recently received 2001 census results confirmed this demographic pattern.



The County Education Officer also advised the Committee that to rebuild Beech Down Primary School on its current site, even as a one form entry school, would be to build surplus places in that part of the area and leave a growing shortfall in the southern part. In particular, it was pointed out that if the proposals were not agreed there would be insufficient flexibility for all children in the area to be accommodated in nearby schools. The result would be children having to travel in excess of two miles from the south to the north of the area to take up the nearest primary school place.

The County Council's proposal would result in there being 126 (10%) surplus places in the three schools in the area, and was designed to enable all children in the area to attend a primary school within reasonable walking distance of their home. It was pointed out that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's proposal would result in 165 surplus primary school places (16.2%) in 2005. This was well in excess of the 10% which was considered a reasonable working margin by the Audit Commission.

In summary, the Local Education Authority's proposal provided the flexibility to ensure that all children in the area could be accommodated in nearby schools without resulting in excessive surplus places.

The chairman of governors of St Mark's CE (Aided) Primary School firstly acknowledged the disappointment which would be felt by Beech Down Primary School if the proposals were agreed by the Committee. The Committee were advised that St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School was a highly effective school in the view of the Local Education Authority and that the excellent staff and management would undoubtedly be able to meet the challenge if the school was expanded to a three form entry. The chairman of governors also advised that the school was more than capable of taking on the challenges presented by the proposals and would be able to successfully integrate the EBD children into the school.

The chairman of governors informed the Committee that there had been extensive consultation throughout the whole process and that they had been sensitive to the needs of the Beech Down community. The Committee were referred to the petition with 134 signatures received with the joint objection letter received from Mrs G. Tyson and Mrs M. Mullins. It was pointed out that whilst 31% of families with children at St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School signed the petition, only around 15% sent written comments to the governing body during the extensive consultation carried out by the Local Education Authority and the governing body. It was pointed out that many of the comments were positive about the extension.

The chairman of governors also addressed the concerns raised by some residents about the impact of any expansion. In particular it was pointed out that parking provision at the school was generous and was three times more than normally provided for a 420 place school. Following extension to 630 places, it would still have twice the recommended number of parking spaces. It was also disclosed that a travel plan would need to be produced to support a formal planning application and deal with any increase in traffic. It was recognised that traffic needs needed to be carefully managed and that the school would endeavour to do this at all times.



In summary, the chairman of governors confirmed that the school community was looking forward to the challenges presented by the proposals and stressed that the interests of the children would be given priority.

During the ensuing debate, members of the Committee raised a number of points for and against the proposals and asked for clarification and amplification on a number of issues. Some of the concerns included the long term welfare, social and educational development of the children attending Beech Down, the view that Beech Down School should be rebuilt, impact of the closure of Beech Down on the wider community, the likely effect on road traffic and congestion in the area, and concerns as to whether children with EBD could easily adapt from a small school to a large school.

Points in favour of the proposals included the substantial investment by the Local Education Authority in the area and the resultant benefits for neighbouring schools, the need to reduce surplus places and to target investment in areas where the primary school population was growing rather than declining and the extensive consultation undertaken by the Local Education Authority and the Governors of St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School.

Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the proposals in the light of the Local Education Authority and St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School governing body's response to the objections.

All groups in attendance made the following unanimous decision:


_ closure of Beech Down Primary School with effect from 31^st August 2004


_ increase the present 420 place capacity at St Mark's Church of England (Aided) Primary School, Hatch Warren to 630 places in response to expected future demand for places, together with a unit for children with emotional behavioural difficulties (EBD), with effect from September 2004.


RESOLVED:


(iv) That Beech Down Primary School be closed with effect from 31^st August 2004.


(v) That the present 420 place capacity at St Marks Church of England (Aided) Primary School, Hatch Warren be increased to 630 places in response to expected future demand for places, together with a unit for children with Emotional Behavioural Difficulties (EBD), with effect from September 2004.