Archived decisions

APPENDIX ONE

Staff consultation, Hawthorns Questions and Answers

1. Why are the staff at the school being blamed for the present problems and imminent closure?

RT referred to press coverage and press release. RT has never blamed anyone! No one is to blame. There are lots of contributory factors. All officers will share sense of failure with staff and question what more could have been done.

CT: sense of blame not just from newspaper reports.

Ofsted report initially did not focus on poor teaching. This issue has emerged subsequently.

RT: LEA can't be responsible for HMI view or Ofsted's.

2. Is it 100% certain that we are to close?

No. Consultation process will continue to 16^th April. Report to Policy Review Committee in May. Paper circulated (attached) to illustrate process. Ian Lawson described the constitution of the School Organisation Committee.

3. What is the plan and the timescale?

Timescale is as attached.

Plan post September regarding staff and pupils, if SOC does not close the school: situation remains the same and LEA seeks an alternative strategy.

If closure: LEA will provide an extended individual education plan for each pupil.

The LEA will seek to incorporate teaching and non teaching staff in addition to other agencies in implementing these plans.

Between now and the beginning of September this plan will be developed. This plan will aim to provide a better education for all those pupils than previously.

NC: Will there be consultation on these plans with staff already working with the pupils?

RT: Yes. This process will be managed by officers and senior managers.

CL: The issue of placement of pupils has been a major problem and will need to be addressed, and the depth of knowledge of staff about the pupils' needs must be considered.

RT: The very wide range of needs at Hawthorns is acknowledged by LEA and will be addressed through the planning process.

4. Why are you now able to fund such a plan?

The LEA has put considerable additional financial resources into Hawthorns, over many years. It is felt by the LEA this additional resource cannot continue to be put in without radical change.

CT: if the LEA has pumped in staff, why have there been shortages?

CL: many attempts have been made to recruit from local and county schools and on the open market, but there is a real issue about recruiting and retaining staff.

5. Why haven't we been consulted about the new venture?

You are being consulted now.

6. What is going to happen to the pupils in September?

See answer 3

7. Are the new Year 7's coming in September?

We are hoping to keep numbers low in September. There is the possibility of other schools assisting with Sept 04 Yr 7 pupils. The LEA is committed to maintaining numbers at a manageable level whilst the new provision is being developed.

8. What was the content of discussion with the unions?

Summary of issues addressed provided (attached) This was spoken to by RT.

Q: How will local school react to inclusion of EBD pupils in local mainstream schools?

RT: LEA is not proposing decanting Hawthorns pupils into mainstream schools. However, the LEA is hoping to establish ownership of pupils by the community of schools.

9. When will we know about redundancy?

RT: When the new structure is established, (summer term), structure will develop from Sept 04 to Sept 05 and we will appoint to that. Appointments to be made initially during the autumn term 2004.

Q: will we be made redundant on 31^st August?

RT: For all staff there will be statutory notice periods.

RT: The LEA and management acknowledge there is considerable knowledge and expertise in the current Hawthorns team. We need to build this into the future provision.

Q: staff on temp contracts running out in July. Will these continue into autumn term? RT: This issue needs to be pursued with the Education Personnel team.

10. What is the notice period for support staff?

It varies depending on contracts and length of service.

11. Who are the `experts' putting forward this new plan?

Officers, EPs, headteachers and all staff. Local mainstream schools will need to be involved in the process. The expertise will be drawn from across the country and officers are researching in other LEAs.

12. What provision has been made to give support to staff, who are already doing a very difficult job, in this stressful period?

Staff were reminded of current county wide structures. 1:1 contact with personnel officers will be available autumn term.

13. What is the process by which you approach staff about jobs in the new venture?

Some form of ring fencing of current staff will be established.

14. Will teaching jobs be advertised?

Yes

15. What provision has been made to retain experienced staff?

All staff who feel they have something to offer the new vision will have the opportunity to apply for posts. The LEA wants high quality staff.

16. Will there be continuity of service?

There will be continuity of service within HCC structures for those staff appointed to new posts.

17. What type of pupils will there be on roll?

This issue will be part of planning, acknowledging current tensions/difficulties of placement.

18. Will there be residential provision?

Not from September 2004. Possibly in the future.

19. In the new venture would teaching staff be expected to work in other schools?

If we are developing joined-up local provision with greater flexibility, there may well be dual rolling of pupils and some teacher exchange. Staff will be fully consulted.

20. Who is going to have overall control of the new venture?

A planning group has been established and is currently meeting. A management group will assume control following the closure of the school and the disbanding of the governing body. This is likely to involve senior officers, local headteachers and other interested parties.

21. How can staff be made redundant if their job remains in place?

Answered previously.

22. Will it be seen as a chance to change rates of pay whilst still doing the same jobs?

No. However, the rationalisation of support staffing grades may be undertaken as a matter of course. There would be no policy of moving to part time contracts.

23. What is going to happen to the building?

The LEA acknowledges difficulties with the building. However, the building will have to be used for the foreseeable future. Environmental improvement will be explored.

24. Are they shutting the Ashford Unit?

Technically this is not part of the consultation process, so should not be addressed at this meeting.

25. Are we going to be a school?

In Sept 2004 - Aug 2005, no if closure agreed. From Sept 2005 the new provision will open.

26. A school for Basingstoke or the whole of Hampshire?

It will be for the Basingstoke area and the north of the county.

27. How much political pressure played a part in these decisions?

The strategy has been officer and not member led.

28. What now is the point of the HMI visit?

Until Hawthorns closes it remains a school in special measures. HMI are therefore statutorily obliged to monitor. If the school closes, HMI will not be able to inspect provision as a school in special measures.

NC: would HMI still have a right to inspect?

JB: HMI would be able to gain access to inspect provision for statemented pupils.

29. What plans has the LEA to put pressure on HMI to discontinue inspections, which have such a negative effect on all staff?

There are no plans; there would be no guarantee of success. Technically there is nothing the LEA can do to stop HMI access even if it wished to do so.

30. What are the provisions for the pupils in Year 9 and 10 who are doing or soon to start, exam courses?

Provisions will continue, with the aim of better provision and more opportunities being provided.

31. Will terms of employment and pay be altered if SSA's are re-graded to LSA's?

See answer 22

Q: why did the LEA not look at alternatives before closing the school?

A: The LEA did look at many alternatives. However, it takes a long time to close a school, and the LEA is convinced that radical change is needed urgently. The LEA needed to maintain control of the situation and did not wish for the closure decision to be made by others outside the County Council.