Proposal to amalgamate Worting Infant and Worting Junior schools - LEA's comments on the objections received

Letter A - Mrs P Conduct, Chair of Governors, Worting Infant School

1a) The Worting schools' community is divided on this issue. The review was initially prompted by a letter from the junior school governing body expressing concerns about the viability of the junior school given the forecast decline in pupil numbers. There are 131 children forecast to be at the junior school in 2007. The infant school is forecast to be less than half full in 2007 with 87 children. The proposal to amalgamate the infant and junior schools is designed to remove the significant number of surplus places at the schools, and at the same time provide a stable base for the education of primary age children in the area. A primary school housing the combined numbers of infant and junior school children plus early years provision would be sufficiently robust, and would offer the opportunity for continuity and progression for the Worting community's three to eleven year olds.

1b) Hampshire County Council would expect an amalgamated primary school to be, at the least, equally effective.

1c) The governing body of a school determines how best to utilise the resources at its disposal, for the benefit of the children at the school. The governing body and headteacher of the new primary school would decide whether or not a nurture group would operate within the school.

1d) The County Council recognises the importance of providing for pre-school age children in the Worting community. A primary school would contain early years provision, the nature of which would be the subject of a detailed feasibility study by officers of the Council's Early Education and Childcare Unit in close partnership with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

1e) For budget setting purposes 41 September 2003 admissions have been agreed between the school and the LEA. This number represents a participation rate of 39.8%, and would result in a September 2003 number on roll of 110 children compared with a September 2002 number on roll of 132. The 103 four year olds resident in the Worting catchment area in 2003 falls to 87 in 2004 and 81 in 2005.

1f) The prospect of a 1.5 form entry school and subsequent mixed age classes was a clear concern expressed at the consultation meetings with the infant school. Of the present six classes at the junior school two are already mixed age. The forecast number on roll for the infant school indicates that the grouping of children would need to be based on mixed age classes in the future without reorganisation of the two schools. The high component of special educational needs within mixed age classes would continue to be a challenge for the schools as separate establishments. One all-through primary school would have the benefit of one budget providing resources for all children aged four to eleven. Provision of resources for children with SEN would be able to organised more cost effectively, with the benefit to staff and children of progression and continuity through the three key stages. Over the half the primary schools in the country operate with mixed age classes. There is no evidence to suggest that standards will be compromised by an organisation based on mixed age classes with a high proportion of children having SEN. As necessary the County Council would want to work closely with governors and staff to support them in developing an organisation based on mixed age group classes.

During consultations the infant school staff expressed concern about existing recruitment problems. An all-through primary school would be a larger establishment than either the present infant or junior school. As such it would afford greater opportunity for staff career progression and development; a positive aid to staff retention and recruitment.

2a) By statute the County Council is required to consult with the staff, parents and governing body of the school. At the infant school this included staff at the Star Playschool and the parents of children attending the playschool. Both schools were encouraged to invite members of their schools' communities as they saw fit.

The paper distributed to parents, staff and governors as the basis for consultation contains three options:

· Take no action

(The paper pointed out that in view of the high number of current and forecast surplus places, and the junior school's concerns about running a school with low and declining rolls, this was not an acceptable option.)

· Close both schools

(It was pointed out that this option would result in approximately 200 children having to travel considerable distances to a range of schools in the area. This, together with the fact that there was a clear continuing need for primary education on the Worting schools' site, rendered the option unviable.)

· Amalgamate the schools

(The option is now a proposal).

During the course of pre-consultation discussion between HCC officers and a joint working party of governors from the infant and junior schools, the infant school put forward the option of developing an early years centre at the school. It was pointed out that, given capital funding constraints, this was not an option.

2b) At the time of the consultation exercise the County Council was applying new net capacity assessment procedures for all schools, in keeping with Department for Education and Skills requirements. This resulted in a decreasing capacity at the infant school from 210 to 180, and a decrease in capacity at the junior school from 240 to 210. The old capacity assessments were recorded in the consultation paper date 17^th October 2002, the new net capacity assessments were recorded in the paper reporting on the outcome of consultations, dated 21^st January 2003. The period of time which elapsed between carrying out consultations and reporting back on their outcome meant that it was possible to extend the forecasting model of pupil numbers by an additional year from 2006 to 2007.

Forecast pupil numbers for schools take into account all new housing for which planning has been approved, and are based upon Small Area Population Forecasts, which detail the number of four year olds in an area. During the course of the consultations there was some confusion as to whether or not a proposed housing development at Old Kempshott Lane had been taken into account in the forecast pupil numbers. It was confirmed that this development had not been granted planning approval and as such was not taken account of in the pupil number forecasts.

2c) The provision of school places in Hampshire is predicated upon local schools serving local communities. As, if and when housing developments occur, the County Council fulfils its statutory duty of ensuring a sufficiency of school places through effective strategic planning. The area covered by this review is a discrete part of Basingstoke with no approved housing development. The provision of additional, local school places where needed, and the removal of surplus school places where not required, are complementary aspects of the LEA's strategic plan.

2d) See comments on 2a) above.

Letter B - Mrs J Walke

Forecast pupil numbers

Paragraph 1 The report to the Education Policy Review Committee set out the updated pupil numbers. A one form entry primary school would accommodate up to 210 pupils. The 2007 forecast number of pupils at the infant and junior schools totals 218. In the event of amalgamation the infant school site would be sold for residential development, which would result in up to 30 additional primary age children. The 2007 forecast for Park View Junior School shows a deficit of 15 places; at present 24% of children in the Wortings catchment area attend this school. Therefore, as a minimum, an amalgamated primary school would need to cater for up to 263 children. It is also recognised that, at present, less than half of the primary age children in the Worting Infant and Junior schools' catchment area attend the schools.

Paragraph 2 County Council comments on letter A 2b) refer to the net capacity assessment exercise recently undertaken. This resulted in a 13 place reduction in Park View Junior School's capacity, which in turn led to the forecast of a 15 place deficit in 2007. As stated in the paragraph above, an amalgamated 1.5 form entry primary school would have sufficient capacity to cater for these children.

Paragraph 3 See comments on letter A - 2b).

Classes/size of classes

See comments on letter A - 1f).

The County Council recognises the efforts and good work of staff in providing for children with special educational needs in both the infant and junior schools. There is every reason to expect this to continue in an amalgamated primary school. The LEA would monitor and support the amalgamation.

Primary brief/buildings

The remodelling of the junior school to provide an up to date building equipped to deliver the primary curriculum represents a County Council investment of £1.8 million. A feasibility study undertaken by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has demonstrated the need to provide additional space to accommodate the extra children and to adapt the existing facilities to accommodate the change from junior to primary, as well as to provide infant class bases. Draft plans would be the subject of detailed discussion with the temporary governing body of the primary school.

Catchment area

Views were expressed at the consultation meetings that the infant school and its access are located on the outskirts of the housing within the school's catchment area, and that this was a major factor in the infant school's low participation rate of 41%. Whilst the infant and junior school buildings are in close proximity, access to the junior school (which would become the access to a primary school) is more conveniently located for parents living in the Wortings catchment area.

Funded nursery education

See comments on letter A - 1d).

Size of school

The County Council agrees with the Worting Junior School governors and staff that a 131 place junior school is vulnerable. Whilst the school operates effectively with its present number on roll and consequent staffing establishment, the forecast decline in pupil numbers would result in staff reductions and put pressure on the school's ability to deliver high quality education. The issue of recruitment and retention of staff could become even more problematic in both schools as pupil numbers fall. An all through primary school with up to 330 pupils would provide a staffing complement with a greater range of expertise and would offer greater opportunity for staff career development, both of which are known to have a significant impact on the issues of staff retention and recruitment.

Traffic

A school transport plan, addressing issues of road safety and parking, would form an integral part of the plans for a primary school. The transport plan would be the subject of detailed discussion between Hampshire County Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council officers.

Alternative options

See comments on letter A - 2a).

The County Council cannot guarantee pupil numbers at a school. This is largely determined through parental preference. The £1.8 million investment in creating an all through primary school with integral early years provision would send out a positive message to the Worting community.

Capital strategy

The cost of creating a 330 place primary school with early years provision on the junior school site is in the region of £1.8 million. The Chief Executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council indicated that the Borough Council would have no objection to the proposal to create a primary school with capital funding made available through the sale of the infant school site for residential development.

Best interests of children 3 - 11

The County Council does not consider the forecast percentage of surplus places in 2007 (51.6% at the infant school and 37.6% at the junior school) to be sustainable, and is firm in its belief that a primary school with early years provision represents the best way forward for the education of 3 - 11 year olds in the Worting area.

Numbers on roll

Paragraph 1 No firm decision has yet been made regarding a major development area to the west of Basingstoke. As and if such a development occurred the local community which would be formed would expect local primary school provision, and Hampshire County Council would plan to deliver this. An integral part of such planning would be to minimise surplus places in schools within a two/three mile radius of any new school provision.

Paragraph 2 The County Council acknowledges the efforts of the Worting Infant School community in helping to create a purposeful and pleasant environment for children. The County Council will work with the governing body of an amalgamated school to create a similarly pleasant site and environment for the children and staff.

Letter C - Mrs J Ballard, Headteacher, Worting Infant School

Bullet points 1, 2 and 3 - see comments on letter A - 2a).

Bullet point 4 There is no reason to expect any disbenefit to infant age children. The proposal to amalgamate the infant and junior school is predicated on this being the way forward to best serve the needs of primary age children in the Worting area.

Bullet point 5 See comments on letter A - 2b).

Bullet point 6 The headteachers of Park View Infant and Park View Junior schools were kept fully informed regarding discussions and the consultation which took place.

Bullet point 7 See comments on letter A - 2b), 2c) and letter B - `Numbers on roll' paragraph 1.

Bullet point 8 See comments on letter A - 1c) and 1f).

Bullet point 9 The County Council proposal includes purpose built early years provision within the design build of an amalgamated primary school.

See comments on letter A - 1d).

Bullet point 10 See comments on letter A - 2b) and letter B - `Forecast pupil numbers'.

Planning for housing development on the Old Kempshott Lane site has not been approved. The site has been identified in Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's First Deposit Local Plan Review as a `reserved' site, along with several others. The site will not be released for development until after 2005/06, and then only if Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's structure plan monitoring shows that reserved sites are required to meet housing targets by 2011. Even if reserved sites are required, Old Kempshott Lane would be considered against other sites.

Bullet point 11 See comments on letter A - 2b).

Bullet point 12 See comments on letter A - 1f).

Bullet point 13 The County Council recognises the hard work and commitment of staff and governors at Worting Infant School and Worting Junior School in achieving an `effective' categorisation for their respective schools.

The County Council shares the concerns of the junior school staff and governors about the forecast decline in pupil numbers and the impact this will have on the school's ability to continue to deliver a quality education. The proposal, therefore, is to build on the good work of both schools and to invest in the Worting community through the provision of a purpose designed primary school with early years facilities.

Letter D - Mrs Bulpitt

Paragraphs 1 - 4 It is the County Council's intention that a primary school with early years provision on the Worting schools' site will continue to offer local children the opportunity of a good start in their primary years of schooling. There is no reason to suppose that the caring ethos experienced by Mrs Bulpitt and her sons at Worting Infant School will not be continued in an all through primary school.

Paragraph 6 Planning for the primary school would include a school transport plan which would address the issues associated with car parking at the school and congestion. The access to the primary school would be closer to the area of population of the catchment area than the present access to the infant school. The primary school will be designed to cater for up to 330 children. In keeping with government legislation there will be no infant class greater than 30. The headteacher and governing body of the school will be responsible for determining the organisation of Key Stage 2 classes in the new school.

Letter E - Mrs Coventry

Paragraph 2 The County Council acknowledges parents' preferences for either separate infant and junior or primary schools. Education for primary age children in Hampshire is provided through 189 primary, 117 junior and 129 infant schools. The Council recognises that separate infant and junior and all through primary schools can each offer high quality education. The type and nature of primary provision in an area is determined by local circumstances. In the case of the Buckskin area of Basingstoke, and after considering all the factors, the County Council believes that an all through primary school is the best option.

Paragraph 3 Primary schools can, and do, operate highly successfully within and outside the County. The key to a successful school is good management and leadership and good teaching. All schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy and are expected to operate it effectively. Teams of staff working together in an all through primary school will be able to demonstrate consistency in their expectations of children.

Paragraph 4 See comments on letter B - `Traffic'.

Paragraph 5 The LEA has judged Worting Junior School to be an effective school (as is the case with Worting Infant School). An inspection of Worting Junior School in September 2000 by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) found that although children entered the junior school with standards well below average, they achieved good progress with their learning as a direct result of the good quality of teaching and the excellent management by the headteacher and senior staff.

Paragraph 6 See comments on letter C - bullet point 10.

Letter F - Mrs J Stone

See comments on letter A - 1d).

The County Council acknowledges the contribution which the Star Playschool makes towards the education of children in the Buckskin area of Basingstoke. Whilst the exact nature of the early years provision in the proposed primary school has yet to be decided, it is recognised that more early years provision in the area is needed than presently exists.

Letter G - Mrs Warner

See comments on letter E - paragraph 3.

The sum of £1.8 million to create an all through primary school represents a considerable investment by the County Council, and one which it believes will best serve the children and wider community in the Worting area. With the support and advice of the County Council's Education Personnel Service the temporary governing body would agree a staff appointment procedure for the amalgamated primary school. Staff at the Worting Infant and Worting Junior schools would be offered first opportunity to apply for jobs. In the case of the headteacher and deputy headteacher, the posts would need to be advertised nationally. Crucial to the success of an all through primary school would be the appointment of a headteacher who would lead the school through organisational change whilst continuing to focus on the main standards agenda. With the support of the governing body, the parent community and the County Council, there is no reason why such a school should not be able to flourish.