Archived decisions
ITEM 2
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 19 November 2002.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); Mrs S.E. Allbright; Mrs V. Assinder; Mrs A.E. Bailey; D.J. Belfield; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; M.F. Cartwright; K.G. Chapman; Ms P. Clarke; C. Connor; T. Coupland; B.D. Dash; J.J. Dawson; Mrs P.M. Devereux; R.J. Ellis; Mrs J.K. Frankum; 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; D. Mewes; Mrs P.G. Peskett; G.W. Porter; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; J.W. Stocks; Rev. D.M. Turner; J.G.L. Wall; D.F. Wright.
Also present: Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.
74. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No personal or personal prejudicial interests were declared by any Members.
75. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 October 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
76. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reminded Members that the meeting on 21 January 2003 would last all day beginning at 11.00 a.m., because of the large number of items on the agenda. He explained the programme for current best value reviews to be finalised and reported to Committee in March 2003.
77. DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations on this occasion.
78. BUILDING A REPLACEMENT FOR JOHN HUNT OF EVEREST SCHOOL AT NORTH POPLEY, BASINGSTOKE
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations on the proposal to relocate John Hunt of Everest School to a new site at North Popley. The County Education Officer stressed that the intention was to replace the school with modern accommodation on a new site in partnership with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council; and that the school would continue to serve all children from its present catchment area and all children from Popley whose parents wanted them to attend that school. To that end it was likely that the catchment area of Merton Junior School would be transferred from the Vyne to John Hunt of Everest. The school would be designed to provide modern facilities for 750 pupils, with an infrastructure providing the scope to extend to 900. The site was large enough to accommodate either size of school. Members expressed appreciation for the effective communication and consultation strategies which had been pursued with all interested parties in the local area, and unanimously supported the proposed replacement of the school.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that:
(i) Approval be given in principle to the publication of Statutory Notices to effect the relocation of John Hunt of Everest School to a new site at North Popley.
(ii) Authorisation be given to the County Education Officer to obtain the necessary consents from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and to publish the Statutory Notices when the finance and consents have been secured.
79. OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED SIX-TERM SCHOOL YEAR
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the responses to the programme of public consultations undertaken on the proposed reconfiguration of the school year to six terms. They received a presentation from the County Council's consultants, Miller Associates, who explained in detail the way in which views had been sought from all interested parties, the levels of responses and the general tenor of the views expressed. The County Education Officer stressed that any change should lead to improved learning for young people and pointed out the need for co-ordination, both locally between schools in arranging their inset training days consistently; and more widely between adjoining Local Education Authorities to introduce any change in a concerted fashion. To that end consultations had been based on the Local Government Association's model, rather than on any possible variants to it.
The Committee considered views expressed by the Teacher Associations. In general terms the Headteacher Associations were in favour of the proposed six-term structure whereas those representing class-teachers were opposed to it. The Teacher representatives made the following observations:
· training days should stay within the school terms (i.e. 195 days);
· there would be inevitable absenteeism where Easter or the August Bank Holiday fell within the revised school terms;
· teachers were concerned that they had not been consulted first on an issue which their associations perceived as affecting their terms and conditions of service;
· there was felt to be no real mandate for change in the light of the modest response to the consultation;
· there was no convincing evidence that the changed structure of terms would be educationally beneficial or that stress would be reduced;
· there was little support for a longer break in October, particularly if that was at the expense of a shorter summer holiday or a shorter break at Christmas;
· there was a clear need for any changes to be introduced on a nationally coordinated basis;
Church representatives saw no objection on religious grounds to the change, and indeed welcomed the opportunity which would exist in some years for the religious significance of Easter to be taught and celebrated in term time. Members generally agreed that the only practical way forward would be for the inset training days to be contained within the modified structure of terms (i.e. 195 days), and pointed out the need for schools locally to coordinate their training arrangements. They agreed that the ideal way forward would be for there to be national consensus on the proposed new structure and the timing of its introduction; but failing that it would be vitally important for Hampshire and its neighbouring Local Education Authorities to synchronise any changes. It was reported that the Hampshire Governor Forum was in favour of the six-term year.
Members generally felt that there was a need for change, particularly to reduce the impact of the over-long autumn term; to fix the spring break so that it no longer depended on Easter; and to reduce the length of the summer holiday. Most felt that there would be educational advantages derived from such an approach, which was not felt likely to cause undue disruption to families and their children. Some had discussed the proposal with schools in their divisions and found good support for a change to the six-term year, particularly as it would benefit children's learning.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Executive Member for Education be advised that Option 3, as set out
in paragraph 6.3(ii) be commended to the Cabinet, i.e.
· To adopt the six-term year incorporating both the fixed spring holiday and the two week holiday in October.
· To include the five teacher professional training days in the term time dates on the calendar set by the Local Education Authority. In other words the Local Education Authority would set 195 days of term time, leaving the arrangements for professional days the same as is current practice; the schools to identify the dates for the five professional days by setting them during term time.
(ii) That the Executive Member for Education and colleagues seek a national
consultation with fellow Executive Members for Education in order to achieve
a national consensus on the six-term year on the basis recommended by the
Local Government Association.
80. EDUCATION OTHER THAN AT SCHOOL (EOTAS) SERVICE AND SCHOOL EXCLUSIONS 2001/02
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the restructuring of the EOTAS service, on various accommodation issues, and on permanent exclusions from Hampshire schools during the 2001/02 academic year. Particular reference was made to the importance of preventative work and the impact of behaviour support teams, which aimed to help those pupils at risk of exclusion. The national trend, now mirrored in Hampshire, was for the number of permanent exclusions to rise. Members noted the likely financial impact that this trend would have. An explanation was given of the non-partisan stance taken by the Local Education Authority, both when they advised Governors' Discipline Committees and Independent Appeal Panels.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That the EOTAS Service continue to work proactively with schools and other services and agencies to provide effective behaviour management support and advice.
(iii) That any resource implications identified in or as a result of this report be subject to consideration as part of the 2003/04 Education Department budget strategy.
81. OVERVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1999-2002
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on achievements and outcomes arising from the County Council's first Education Development Plan.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted and that the officers be congratulated on the progress made in raising standards at schools.
82. REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING 2002/03
The Committee considered a report of the County Treasurer and County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the current year's revenue budget. With regard to the underspending on the Youth Service, it was noted that a proposal had been put forward to use £120,000 of that towards the costs of the Hamble Youth Centre; this proposal would be considered by the Executive Member for Education following a recommendation to that effect from the Youth Panel.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
83. BUDGET REVIEW: EDUCATION SERVICE OUTTURN 2001/02; SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION BUSINESS UNITS BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2002
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) relating in particular to balances held at the end of last financial year.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the contents and comments on schools' balances be noted as set out in the report.
(ii) That the Executive Member for Education be invited to note the support of the Education Policy Review Committee for the proactive approach proposed in the report and set out in paragraphs 4.6 to 4.8; and whilst welcoming the DfES proposals set out in their letter dated 23 October and a move to 3-year indicative budgets, felt that Hampshire's proposed approach was more likely to reduce uncommitted balances held by schools.
84. PUPIL ATTITUDE SURVEY 2002
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) setting out the results of surveys carried out into the attitudes of pupils in primary and secondary schools. It was reported that Hampshire was the only Education Authority known to be carrying out such an in-depth survey, so there were no comparative figures. However the data obtained were found to be very valuable by schools who could compare their results against those of similar schools.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
85. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education, answered a question from Mr T. Coupland, parent governor representative, concerning the statutory requirement for a daily act of collective worship in schools. A copy of the question and Councillor Allen's reply appear as item 12 in the Minute Book.
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