CALMORE INFANT SCHOOL

CONSULTATION WITH PARENTS (23 June 2003)

182 parents and members of the community attended the meeting.

Officers were welcomed to the meeting by the Chairman of Governors who then gave a response to the consultation paper.

Buildings

· One parent asked why Oakfield Primary was not part of the equation because it looked as though the closure of this school would refill the Calmore schools and the Oakfield site could be used as a special school.

· The report stated that the proposed primary school would be 420 places but only 360 places are available in the junior school. How does the LEA intend to make this work, especially in view of the need to provide additional early years in the area? The parents were anxious that the existing early years provision should not be lost.

· Since neither building is large enough to accommodate a 2FE primary school is it really worth carrying out construction work on one building to bring it to the appropriate size when, by leaving the schools as they are, the area can cater for all the pupils wishing to attend the schools and still provide the additional early years in the infant school building?

· Development at Hangar Farm is likely to be approved within the next two/three weeks for 290 dwellings, of which 95 are for social housing. These dwellings are not included in the forecast figures. If the new dwellings are included will the two Calmore Schools refill?

· Parents were concerned that the amalgamation of the two schools into a primary school will remove parental choice for those parents wishing to choose separate infant and junior schools.

· Parents were anxious that temporary accommodation was not placed on the site and that any building works required would be completed prior to any pupils moving into the new extended building.

· Parents were keen to see the appropriate specialist provision being made for the pupils and asked if this provision would be duplicated in any amalgamated school, i.e. two ICT suites, two music/drama rooms, etc.

· One suggestion from a parent was to remove the temporary accommodation from some of the other schools in the area and force the pupils back into the Calmore Schools.

· Since there have been amalgamations in other areas of the county would it not be a good idea to have parents involved in that amalgamation so that they could share their experience?

· Are there any other proposals that could be considered to make sure the school is properly used?

· Some parents were concerned that if the infant school building cannot be sold then there could be a problem with vandalism which would have an effect on the area as a whole.

· Most parents were concerned that the closure of the infant school could be easier to achieve because it is a community school and the closure could be "imposed" whereas the closure of the junior school has to be agreed with the governors of that school.

· Other parents wished to know if the governing body at the junior school would have to be consulted about the use of the surplus places at the schools or if they could determine how the surplus places are used in the junior school.

· It was pointed out that the proposal is to amalgamate the schools in the junior building but there is no kitchen in the junior building. Why could the amalgamation not be considered in the infant building?

Pupil Numbers

· Concern was expressed by a number of parents that the projected numbers do not include all the expected housing growth in the area. If this were to be taken into account the school would be full so why seek to close/amalgamate now?

· A number of parents sought clarification on what is meant by amalgamation, i.e. does it mean that the infant pupils will be subsumed within the junior school? Clarification was also sought on the process of any proposed amalgamation.

· Some parents were worried about four year old pupils mixing with 11 year old pupils and the influences of the older pupils on the smaller children. They were was also worried about the possibility of bullying that could take place when mixing pupils with such a difference in age.

· The participation rate at the Calmore Schools is not 100% but at other schools in the area, e.g. Foxhills, the participation is over 100%. Should the LEA not be seeking to move pupils back to the Calmore Schools?

· It was stated that Hampshire had to accept its share of additional housing and that New Forest District Council are likely to seek to use Totton as the base for this additional growth. Given that scenario should the LEA be seeking to amalgamate the schools, and removing places, when it is likely that there will be a further growth in the area? One question centred around discussions between Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council and whether there are sufficient places in the area?

· Some parents were concerned that there will be an increase in class sizes in the "larger" primary school but it has been shown that pupils perform better in smaller class sizes and would this not be lost?

· What would happen if an additional 90 pupils wished to attend the school because there are no places available for them?

Educational Standards

· Many parents made the point that the school is now "on the up" and that the educational standards are rising under the Headteacher. This has had the effect of the school losing fewer pupils to surrounding schools.

· Utilisation of other spaces within the school allows the school to provide accommodation for one to one tuition, something that cannot be achieved in the junior school. Lack of this type of resource will not help with the raising of educational standards.

· Some parents made the point that the reputation of Testwood Secondary School may be a factor when parents decide where to send their children to school. If Testwood School regains its reputation then the number of parents wishing to send their children to the Calmore Schools (the main feeder school to Testwood) may rise.

Staffing

· Many questions were asked about the staff at the infant school and whether they would move with the infant pupils into the new school to provide the continued good practice in the infant school.

· Some parents asked what they needed to do to keep the school open as it now has excellent teachers and a full early years provision. This could lead to more teachers being required not fewer.

Funding

· A number of parents wished to know the cost of any building works for the amalgamated school and what would happen if there was no receipt from the infant school site (if the site was used for other educational purposes)? One parent expressed the view that the cost of any building works required would allow both schools to remain open for a number of years, during which time the projected numbers for the area could be refined and the LEA could decide what accommodation would be required in the amalgamated school and have the building work costed.

· Many parents agreed that leaving the schools as they are would give the flexibility the LEA requires for additional early years provision and will be a low cost, low risk strategy. The cost of building additional accommodation at the junior school will not necessarily provide better facilities than those being enjoyed by the pupils at present.

Conclusion

· There are many parents in the hall tonight who have children in both schools and we do not want a primary school at Calmore.

· Parents wishing to use the surplus capacity at the school for other purposes- 100%.