Archived decisions

Contact: Ann Begley, Assistant County Education Officer (School Branch) 01962 846518; [email protected]

Alex Munro, Education Officer (Admissions & Special Projects) 01962 846462; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1. This report seeks authority to consult on the future pattern of primary school provision in the Romsey area. A review is necessary because of a declining primary school population within the area, including a significant recent drop in numbers at Ampfield CE Primary School. It sets out proposals on how resources might be used more effectively to promote high quality education. A map of the area is enclosed at annex A.

1.2. Declining school rolls present considerable challenges to schools and their staff in maintaining effective curriculum delivery and in offering opportunities for professional development of staff. Valuable resources are diverted from other schools to manage the consequences of declining pupil numbers and the diseconomies of scale. Additional budget allocations are needed to maintain staffing and protect the curriculum and to help cover the running costs of under-occupied school buildings.

1.3. In summary, a review process gives the opportunity to consider a potential investment strategy designed to:

· promote cost-effective education by offering improved facilities in re-organised schools to support higher standards of attainment;

· expand early years provision where there is a shortfall;

· assess the need for specialist provision for pupils with special educational needs;

· offer opportunities for improved facilities in schools for community use.

1.4. The issues raised in this report reflect the following County Council corporate aims:

· Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities;

· Aim 4 - building strong and safe communities;

· Aim 5 - improving services.

2 Strategic implications of surplus places

2.1. The County Council, as the Local Education Authority (LEA), has a statutory duty to plan the provision of school places and to secure an appropriate balance locally between supply and demand. The most recent School Organisation Plan (SOP) - approved by the School Organisation Committee in December 2003 - sets out the policy framework which guides decisions on the provision of school places and takes into account factors such as geographical variations, size and location of schools, parental preferences and local population trends.

2.2. The latest edition of the SOP draws attention to the rising number of surplus places in Hampshire primary schools as a result of demographic changes. The consequences of this rising surplus need to be managed effectively.

2.3 In 1997, there were 6.4% surplus places in Hampshire primary schools; by January 2003 this had risen to 8%. By January 2008 a further rise to 13% is projected, significantly above the 10% level considered a reasonable upper level by the Audit Commission. The projected surplus is equivalent to 69 one form entry primary schools.

2.4 The number of four year olds in the county has been declining over recent years and this trend will continue, with a projected reduction of 12.7% over the 10 year period from 1998 to 2008 (1866 children). The trend is particularly pronounced in some urban areas where there was rapid development in the 1960s and 1970s but where the population has now aged and the number of children has significantly reduced.

2.5 In addition to making the best use of financial resources and accommodation, the removal of surplus places offers valuable opportunities to improve the learning environment through the provision of specialist teaching spaces and to enhance community provision, through for example the development of early years facilities and SEN specialist provision. Proposals for re-organisation, therefore, should consider the need for such provision and the extent to which it can be met within existing buildings, or through new provision financed from the sale of land or from other sources.

2.6 In order to manage surplus places, it may be necessary for successful schools to close. Schools will be encouraged during consultations to consider alternative use of surplus spaces. Creative and imaginative proposals which meet the wider needs of the community will be welcomed and given full consideration.

2 Background

3.1 Table 1 shows present and projected numbers on roll (NOR) and accommodation details for primary schools in the Romsey area. The table includes all primary schools within and to the east of Romsey. Wellow and Awbridge Schools to the west and Nursling CE and Rownhams CE Schools to the south are excluded because of their distance from schools with significant numbers of surplus places.

3.2 Table 1

(1) The number of places in accordance with the most recent capacity assessments

(2) This published admission number (PAN) was used for admissions to Year R and Year 3 in 2003

(3) The participation rate reflects the proportion of children living within the catchment area admitted to the school and acts as the basis for future number on roll projections.

(*) From 2005 admissions, it is proposed to reduce the PAN for Cupernham Infant School to 60 and for Cupernham Junior School to 75. A decision will be taken by the Executive Member for Education on 25 March 2004. The effect of these proposed reductions is shown in Table 2.

(**) The double temporary classroom housing the nursery class is not included in the official school capacity.

3.3 The projections in Table 1 take account of two proposed building developments. New housing at the former Romsey Brewery is included in the projections for the Romsey schools, and at the Bordens/AEP site in the projections for the North Baddesley schools.

3.4 The projections do not take into account a proposed significant housing development to the north and within the catchment area of the Cupernham schools. This site, known as Abbottswood, is identified in the Revised Deposit version of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan as a reserve site in the event that house completions elsewhere fall below the target identified in the Structure Plan. No immediate building development is expected but this could start any time after 2006 if the need is identified. The Local Plan refers to a total of 500 dwellings, although it is possible that this figure might eventually be exceeded.

3.5 The future is therefore uncertain but the possibility of some development from 2006 is taken into account in the proposals in this paper. Assuming an earliest possible start date of 2006 and allowing three years for completion, 500 dwellings could produce an additional 125 primary age children (about 18 per age group) or 250 if development was to reach 1000 dwellings. This would have a major effect on the planning of future places in the Romsey area, and at the Cupernham schools in particular, and is discussed in more detail in relation to individual schools in section 4 of this paper.

4 Schools proposed for inclusion in a review

4.1. In the light of the figures in Table 1, it is proposed that the following schools be the focus of a review. Figures in brackets reflect the effect of reducing the capacity and published admission numbers at the two Cupernham schools to take account of changed use of accommodation.

Table 2

(*) Paragraph 4.5 below refers to the possible reduction of the PAN of Romsey Infant School to 30 (capacity 90). Taken together with the proposed reductions at the Cupernham schools, this would reduce the overall surplus in the area to 32%, before any allowance is made for the possible Abbottswood development.

4.2. Even if the above proposed PAN reductions are taken into account, the percentage of surplus places remains well above acceptable limits.

4.3. Ampfield CE Primary School - The number on roll dropped from 78 pupils in January 2002 to 27 in January 2004. Only 7 live within the school's catchment area, of whom 5 are in years 5 and 6. The headteacher resigned at the end of the summer term 2003 and interim management arrangements are now in place pending a decision about the future of the school. The projected number of roll for January 2009 has been adjusted to maintain a positive figure. Given the immediate past history of the school, any projection can only be tentative.

4.4. Cupernham Infant and Junior Schools - A marked decline in numbers is projected at the Cupernham schools, with a combined surplus of 262 expected in 2009 (43.9%). It should be noted that, for 2005 admissions, the PAN for Cupernham Infant School is likely to be set at 60, to reflect alternative uses for three teaching spaces; the previous PAN was 90. Similarly, the PAN for Cupernham Junior School is likely to be set at 75 (previously 81). This will reflect the reduced capacity and will reduce the overall site surplus to 145. If the housing development referred to in 3.4 were then to go ahead at the minimum level of 500 dwellings, producing 125 children, there would be a maximum surplus of 20. However, it is important to remember that, even when both PANs are reduced, there will have been no reduction in the overall physical capacity of the school buildings which will still be available for future adaptation and/or extension.

4.5. Romsey Infant and Junior Schools - Both schools will experience a significant decline during the period under review, resulting in an overall surplus of 237 places by 2009 (55.4%). A nursery class is currently housed in temporary accommodation on the infant school site; the nursery building is not included in the official size of the school. The governors of Romsey Infant School and the LEA are currently considering the transfer of the nursery class to the main school building which would require two classrooms. A PAN of 30 would then be justified (capacity 90 places) if a third room were to be converted for specialist use. This would virtually remove the projected surplus at the school but would result in a small three-class infant school. No PAN reduction is currently proposed for Romsey Junior School but the proposals to reduce the infant school PAN would inevitably have an effect on pupils numbers at the junior school.

4.6.Numbers at Halterworth Primary, in the south-east of the town, show a decline of just under 12% by 2009 but the school is popular and any projected drop in numbers is likely to be arrested by continuing parental preference from outside the catchment area. This in turn would have an effect on numbers available for other schools.

4.7. Table 1 shows that numbers are likely to be maintained at Braishfield, North Baddesley Infant and Junior Schools and Romsey Abbey CE School. For this reason they have not been included in this review.

3 Other educational and community provision

Early years

5.1 There is an LEA maintained nursery in temporary accommodation at Romsey Infant School. Only 21 of the 60 part-time places are currently filled. The governors and LEA are considering whether it would be feasible to move this nursery into the main school building to make use of surplus capacity.

5.2 The Woodley playgroup is housed in the premises of Cupernham Infant School.

5.3 The review will consider whether there is a need to enhance local provision for pre-school children and how this might be achieved.

Special Educational Needs

5.4 There are at present no primary schools in the Romsey area with specialist resourced provision for children with statements of special educational need. The review will give the opportunity to consider whether new provision would benefit parents and pupils within the area and, if so, how this might be achieved.

5.5 Consultations will be carried out with the local Primary Care Trust to explore possibilities for the greater integration of children's health services.

Other community provision

5.6 Opportunities to enhance local community provision will also be considered.

5 Possible action to remove surplus places

Option 1 - closure of Ampfield CE School

5.1 Projections show that numbers will have dropped to below 20 by September 2004. The school receives substantial additional financial support to enable it to function. No capital receipts would accrue to the County Council because the site is held by trustees. The catchment area would have to be re-allocated.

5.2 Table 3

If Ampfield parents preferred another CE school, the following table shows possible alternatives.

Schools	Distance from Ampfield CE School (miles)
John Keble CE (Aided) School, Hursley	2.0
Romsey Abbey CE (Aided) School	4.3
St Francis CE (Aided) School, Valley Park	3.7

These distances are illustrative only and will not apply to parents living outside the Ampfield area.

Option 2 - close Romsey Infant and Junior Schools and transfer pupils to Cupernham Infant and Junior and Halterworth schools

5.3 By 2009, assuming a straight transfer of all Romsey pupils to the Cupernham schools, provision would be needed for 526 pupils. The current capacity on the Cupernham site is 597 places (a three form entry structure would normally be expected to have 630 places) though this will shortly drop to 480 once changes in the use of accommodation take effect. (Paragraphs 4.4 and 4.5 contain more detailed information about numbers and accommodation.)

5.4 If available places at Halterworth School were taken up by pupils from central Romsey, there would be sufficient room on the Cupernham site for other pupils transferring from the Romsey schools and for the minimum 125 pupils expected from Abbottswood. Over time, additional places could be provided at Halterworth School if needed.

5.5 Catchment area boundaries would have to be revised to ensure a balanced distribution of children between the Cupernham and Halterworth schools.

5.6 The above proposal would result in primary provision on three sites in Romsey - Cupernham Infant and Junior Schools to the north, Romsey Abbey CE (Aided) Primary School to the west and Halterworth Primary School to the east.

6 Other options considered

Option 3 - amalgamate Romsey Infant and Junior Schools on the Romsey Junior School site to create a 210 place 4-11 1fe (1 form of entry) primary school

6.1 The projections show that a 210 place (PAN 30) primary school would be sufficient for the 191 infant and junior children available by 2009. However, given the likelihood of some pupils from central Romsey taking up places at Halterworth, the resulting primary school is likely to fall well below 1fe. The School Organisation Plan makes clear that primary schools should, wherever possible, fall within the range from 1fe (210 places) to 3fe (630 places). Setting up a new 4-11 school below 1fe would not be considered in an urban area.

Option 4 - amalgamate Cupernham Infant and Junior Schools on the Cupernham site to create a 360 place 4-11 primary school

6.2 Current projections indicate that a 360 place school (published admission number 51) would be sufficient to cater for the 335 infant and junior pupils expected by 2009. However, unless there were adaptations to one or other of the buildings, both would continue to be required. Future flexibility to cater for additional pupils from the Abbottswood site would be impaired.

Option 5 - retain all the Cupernham and Romsey schools

6.3 This option would maintain capacity at the Cupernham schools to accommodate the maximum number of pupils predicted from the Abbottswood development but would do nothing to address the projected low numbers and surplus places at Romsey Infant and Junior Schools.

7 Consultations

7.1 An initial meeting between LEA officers and chairmen of governors and headteachers of Romsey area schools was held on 2 February 2004 to consider the impact of falling rolls in the area. Because of sharply declining rolls, Ampfield governors and staff have been in close contact with the LEA and Diocese of Winchester for many months.

7.2 If consultations are agreed, formal consultations will be needed with governors, staff and parents of all schools potentially affected, the Teachers' Liaison Panel, Test Valley Borough Council, parish councils, the Local Strategic Partnership, the local Primary Care Trust and Southampton City Council.

8 Recommendations

8.1 That the Executive Member for Education approve local consultations on:

a) The possible closure of Ampfield CE School;

b) The possible closure of Romsey Infant and Romsey Junior Schools and transfer of children to Cupernham Infant and Junior Schools and Halterworth Primary School, with appropriate catchment area changes;

c) The future of the nursery class at Romsey Infant School.

9.2 Consultations to be carried out during the summer term 2004, with a report back to the Education Policy Review Committee and the Executive Member for Education in the autumn term 2004.

Section 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 extend in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes:

1 Published works

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

None