Archived decisions
ITEM 2
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 20 May 2003.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); I.F.E. Beagley; D.J. Belfield; Carol Boulton; F.J. Bright; P.R. Brown; Mrs E.M. Byrom; M.F. Cartwright; K.G. Chapman; Ms P. Clarke; Ms R. Clarke; C. Connor; T. Coupland; B.D. Dash; J.J. Dawson; Mrs P.M. Devereux; Mrs J.K. Frankum; Mrs K. Heron; Mrs M. Humber; S.W. Juniper; Jo Kelly; R. Kimber; Mrs P. Lerew; Mrs C.A. Leversha; Mrs A. McNair Scott; D. Mayer; D. Mewes; Mrs P.G. Peskett; G.W. Porter; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; J.W. Stocks; Revd. D.M. Turner; J.G.L. Wall; Mrs P.A. West; D.F. Wright.
Also present: Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.
114. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. Councillors Cartwright, Dash and Mrs West declared interests arising on Item 6 (Minute 119) in that they were involved as governors of Colleges or members of partnerships which provided adult learning. The Chief Executive advised that these did not amount to prejudicial interests and that the members concerned could remain in the meeting and speak during the course of the relevant debate.
115. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 March 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
Minute 104 - Lankhills (Osborne) School, closure of off-site class at Toynbee School
It was reported that, in the light of advice from the DfES, the proposed closure of the Toynbee class would be the subject of public notices being published and, if objections were received, a report being submitted to the School Organisation Committee, instead of seeking the Secretary of State's approval to the relevant modification as previously proposed.
116. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman welcomed Mr D. Mayer, parent governor representative from the special school sector, to his first meeting. He also welcomed Councillor Beagley to the meeting. At the Chairman's request, the County Education Officer gave to the Committee an update on the current situation regarding education finance, and the circumstances which had led to the Secretary of State's recent announcement that, subject to several provisos, schools would be allowed flexibility to use devolved capital for revenue purposes in order to provide a short-term solution to funding problems being faced by many schools. It was accepted that the current financial difficulties would be the subject of detailed review by the Schools Forum, followed by a full report to the July meeting of the Education Policy Review Committee. In the meantime, a copy of the County Education Officer's briefing note would be sent to all members of the Committee.
117. DEPUTATIONS
The Committee received deputations from parents/students at Horndean Technology College; and from governors at the College, both relating to the item on the proposed closure of the sixth form referred to in Minute 118 below.
118. PROPOSED CLOSURE OF SIXTH FORM AT HORNDEAN TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations based on the governors' recommendation to close the sixth form at Horndean Technology College to new admissions from September 2004 onwards. Despite the sympathy felt by members for parents and students affected by the proposed change, they considered that there was no realistic alternative to the proposal for closure put forward by the governors, having particular regard to the decline in numbers of students in the sixth form over the years. This meant that the sixth form was becoming progressively unviable and could only be preserved by diverting resources away from other students in the 11-16 age range. Neither the County Council nor the Learning and Skills Council could allocate additional resources to the College or direct the Governors as to how they assessed priorities and deployed their resources. In response to questions it was confirmed that all the subjects and courses currently provided at Horndean were available at other nearby local colleges, which appeared to be increasingly popular with students.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that proposals should be published for the ceasing of sixth form provision at Horndean Technology College after July 2005, with no new admissions from 1 September 2004, in accordance with the governing body's request.
119. ADULT LEARNING PLAN : AUGUST 2003 TO JULY 2004
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the Adult Learning Plan and arrangements for it to be formally adopted by the County Council and submitted to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council for funding in 2003/04. Members generally endorsed the content of Plan and stressed the need for:
· Co-operation and co-ordination rather than competition between providers.
· Direct assistance to providers with aspects such as quality assurance.
· Promotion of courses in community venues and schools rather than colleges in order to provide opportunities for new groups of adult learners who have not felt able to participate in the past.
· Need for a consistent and reliable long-term funding formula.
· Effective working relationships to be developed further between County
Council and the Learning and Skills Council with the aim of improving standards and management information and encouraging a range of provision
throughout the County.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education and the County Council be advised to take the comments summarised above into account before the Adult Learning Plan for August 2003 to July 2004 is finalised and submitted for approval.
120. BEST VALUE REVIEW OF THE EDUCATION WELFARE SERVICE: ACTION PLAN
The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive together with a detailed report by the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the outcome report of the Best Value Review undertaken into the Education Welfare Service. Members noted that a few performance indicators remained to be added and endorsed the need to make further improvements in attendance levels and to promote the positive involvement of parents in securing their children's regular attendance. The suggestion was made that references to "looked after children" should be amplified by the addition of "children at risk identified by Social Services" and "excluded children at education centres".
RESOLVED:
· That the outcome report and improvement plan for the Education Welfare Service be agreed as representing the views of the Education Policy Review Committee.
· That the Executive Member for Education be advised of the outcome of the Best Value Review and requested to implement this improvement plan.
· That arrangements be made for the Committee to receive annual progress reports until the improvement plan is completed.
· That a summary of the review be prepared in the standard format for inclusion in the Best Value Performance Plan.
· That the Committee notes that arrangements are being made to continue Member involvement as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report.
121. LEA ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations relating to the Accessibility Strategy prepared under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended by the Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001. Members generally were content with the Strategy, especially as responses to consultation indicated that schools found its contents clear, informative and helpful.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the LEA Accessibility Strategy be approved as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
122. DFES CONSULTATION PAPER "BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE"
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the proposed response to the consultation paper on changes to the policy for allocating capital funding to Local Education Authorities. The County Education Officer and the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services gave a detailed presentation on the proposed changes, which were likely to have an adverse effect on Hampshire. During the course of discussion the following views emerged:
· The Asset Management Plan system and the formula approach for allocating capital funding was working well and there was no need to change it again.
· The proposals represented a tendency towards centralisation to the detriment of local accountability.
· The concentration on areas of deprivation meant that resources were likely to be directed to other areas perceived to be more deprived than areas such as Hampshire.
· There needed to be a consistent and reliable programme of repairs, maintenance and adaptations to schools over time, for example to replace the components of Hampshire's SCOLA buildings.
· Large local authorities such as Hampshire had the ability to cope with substantial packages of building work and a proven ability to deliver, both on adaptations and new construction; a national body to act as a vehicle for procurement was unlikely to represent an improvement.
· A system of bidding for resources, and/or use of the Private Finance Initiative, was likely to increase uncertainties and lead to short-term decisions on capital investment.
· An effective capital building programme such as Hampshire's relied on the co-ordination of funding from a variety of sources, including district councils, schools and the lottery and this could be compromised by the uncertainties resulting from having to bid for resources.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the Committee
endorses the response to the DfES consultation paper "Building Schools
for the Future" as set out at Appendix 1 and amplified in the light of the
comments set out above, for submission to the DfES.
(ii) That the Executive Member for Education be requested to make
representations to the same effect to the Local Government Association
and Hampshire Members of Parliament.
123. COMBATING RACIAL HARASSMENT: ANNUAL REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on racial incidents during 2002. Some Members expressed concern that the figures in the report understated the overall number and severity of racial incidents in Hampshire schools. They expressed particular disappointment that there had been no return at all from 30% of secondary schools.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the work of schools and teachers who have responded be commended.
(ii) That a report based on the 2002 data be sent to all schools.
(iii) That the Chief Executive be asked to write to all schools reminding them of their legal responsibilities generally under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and the need to monitor racial incidents and make an annual return to the LEA.
(iv) That a further report be brought to the Committee advising of the response made by schools to this reminder.
(v) That those schools failing to make a return be identified to local Members, and those who have not made a return for three and four years be identified to Members of the Education Policy Review Committee and attached inspectors.
124. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education, answered a question from Mr C. Connor concerning provision of a temporary building at Fort Hill Community School to house the Castle Hill Pre-school.
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