Archived decisions

90

Contact: Steve Clow, Head of Architecture, 01962 847858 Ann Begley, Assistant County Education Officer, 01962 846518

1 Summary

1.1 This report provides members with an update on the project to reorganise special school provision in the Alton/Bordon area.

2 Background

2.1 The reorganisation of special school provision in East Hampshire will involve replacement of the existing Meadow School (MLD) in Bordon and Whitedown School (SLD) in Alton with a single school on the Meadow school site catering for the full range of learning difficulties. The provision will be supplemented by resourced provision at Mill Chase Community School, Bordon and at two primary schools in the area. Work is underway to identify appropriate primary schools and for discussions to take place with headteachers and governors in the spring term.

3 New school accommodation

3.1 The accommodation brief for the new 120 place school, catering for pupils between the ages of 2-19, has been finalised. The new school will have general and specialist teaching spaces, post 16 accommodation, a hydrotherapy pool and staff facilities. There will be accommodation to enable specialist staff such as health therapists to work with pupils. The design of the new school will allow community use of facilities such as the hall and hydrotherapy pool.

3.2 The construction cost of the proposed new school project is currently estimated at £7m though further detailed work is required on the design and cost plan in order to arrive at the most cost effective proposals.

3.3 Funding of £5m (the maximum allowed under the scheme) has been secured from the DfES Targeted Capital Fund. It is anticipated that with the capital receipt from the sale of Whitedown school site, and further capital contributions from Policy and Resources, the total scheme will proceed.

3 Timescale

3.1 The School Organisation Committee approved on 23 May 2003 the establishment of a new community special school for 120 pupils with complex learning difficulties between the ages of 2 - 19, on the Meadow School site. On the same date approval was given to the establishment of a unit for children with learning difficulties at Mill Chase Community School, Bordon, catering for up to 10 pupils. Both proposals would take effect from the end of the spring term 2006.

3.2 The detailed plans for the new school, including room layouts, will be produced during the spring term. This will be followed by a planning application and a Project Appraisal to the Education Buildings Advisory Group (EBAG).

3.3 It is proposed to engage with a framework building contractor in early 2004 to develop the detailed scheme, with a view to agreeing the contract with the contractor at the end of the year.

3.4 It is intended to start building work in the last quarter of 2004 with a completion date of Easter 2006. A further three/four months will be needed to demolish the existing Meadow School and complete the remaining external works, finalising all work by September 2006. This is a target programme and Members will be updated as design work progresses to meet the intended completion date.

5 Implementation Group

5.1 An implementation group has been set up which provides a forum for the headteachers and governors of both schools to meet with officers. Meetings are held regularly to discuss issues in relation to the development of the new school.

6 Future Action

6.1 The design for the new school will be developed and a financial strategy to allow the scheme to proceed is being finalised. In the Spring Term 2004 meetings will be held with a number of primary schools in the area, identified for possible mainstream resourced provision prior to proceeding to the publication of notices. Progress reports will be submitted to future meetings of the panel.

7 Recommendation

7.1 That the report be noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

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.

None.