Archived decisions

Contact: George Heller, Assistant County Education Officer (01962 846518) or Ian Lawson, Strategic Planning Officer (01962 846350)

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

1.2 That public notices be published, in accordance with Section 31(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, to discontinue Whitedown School, Alton and The Meadow School, Bordon, and to establish a new community special school for 120 boys and girls with complex learning difficulties, between the ages of 2 and 19, on the site of The Meadow School, Bordon, with effect from April 2006.

1. Reasons

1.1 At the Decision Day on 23 November 2001, the Executive Member, Education, agreed the reorganisation of Whitedown and The Meadow Schools in principle, subject to achieving a funding stream to enable the project to be implemented. As the Targeted Capital Fund bid for this project in 2002/03 was unsuccessful, it has not been possible to proceed with the publication of public notices. Following further discussion with the DfES, a renewed bid has been submitted for the 2003/04 Targeted Capital Fund. It will greatly assist this bid if public notices are now published. The outcome of the bid will be known in late March 2003. If necessary, this would be in time for the proposals to be withdrawn before they have to be determined or considered by the School Organisation Committee. In any event, if the bid is not successful, the County Council will need to consider an alternative funding strategy.

1.2 Since the November 2001 decision, local consultations have continued, with particular regard to the desirability of establishing additional resourced provision in mainstream schools for children with learning difficulties. Officers are now confident that it will be possible to establish 30 resourced places in three local schools (two primary and one secondary, including the 10 places at Mill Chase Secondary already agreed in principle). Detailed proposals for the primary resourced provision will be brought forward as soon as the consultations have been satisfactorily completed. The effect of this is that it is only now necessary to plan for a total of 120 places in the new special school and this is reflected in the recommendation above.

2. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Not applicable.

3. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or member or officer consulted

4.1 Not applicable.

4. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

4.1 Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.2 Not applicable.

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor D. Allen

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

Targeted Capital Fund bid for 2003/04