AT A MEETING of the SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on 25 June 2004. (subject to approval at the September committee meeting)

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Don Allen
Michael Cartwright
Raymond Ellis
Mrs Edith Randall

Church of England

Brian Hay

Canon Richard Lindley

Roman Catholic Church

Veronica Roberts

Mrs Urszula Topp

School Governors

Alan Fender

Jim Murray

Frank Rust

Mrs Bobby Smith

Sylvia Vine

Apologies

Councillor Brian Dash - Hampshire County Council

Councillor Jo Kelly - Hampshire County Council

Simon Tong - Church of England

Alex Young - Church of England

Mrs Sheila Allen - Roman Catholic Church

Jack Carruthers - School Governors

Tom Wickstead - School Governors

114 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

The Clerk welcomed Members to the meeting and asked for nominations to the office of Chairman for the ensuing year. None was forthcoming, so in the circumstances he asked for nominations to that post for this meeting only.

RESOLVED:

That Canon Richard Lindley be appointed Chairman of the Committee for this meeting only.

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CANON RICHARD LINDLEY IN THE CHAIR

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Canon Lindley thanked Members for his election and explained that he was, during the summer, retiring as Diocesan Director of Education and that he was therefore not being re-nominated to serve on the School Organisation Committee.

115 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 April 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minute 109, School Organisation Budget

The Chairman reported that further investigation was being carried out as to the timing for the School Organisation Committee's budget and the outcome would be reported to the Committee's next meeting.

116 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

In the absence of the current Vice-Chairman, Tom Wickstead, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the appointment of a permanent Vice-Chairman in the same way as they had deferred consideration of their permanent Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Section 6 of the Constitution, appointments to the posts of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the School Organisation Committee be made at the next SOC meeting and that Members be asked to consider nominations to be put forward at that time.

117 DEPUTATIONS

The Committee received deputations as follows, all relating to Item 5 - Holbury Infant and Junior Schools - Minute 118 below.

Derek Willsher, Chairman of Governors and David Mewes, Headteacher Holbury Junior School

The deputation made particular reference to uncertainties as to the extent of any land at Holbury Infant School to be sold and the future use for it; the shortage of parking space at the reorganised Holbury Primary School if the existing infant school site were disposed of; and their firmly expressed view that if the reorganisation as proposed were to succeed, it should be with effect from September 2005 rather than 2006, in order to minimise the changeover period. The Governors and Headteacher stressed that they would work together with their Infant School counterparts to make the reorganised primary school a success, although they reiterated that their preferred option would have been to amalgamate all three Holbury Schools to form one large primary school. They felt this would have been better value for money in view of the significant pupil unit cost differential between the Manor and Holbury Schools, and expressed apprehension that continued competition between Manor and Holbury would divide the local community. They also expressed concerns as to what form the early years provision at Holbury would take.

Margaret Cooper, Chair of Governors and Lizzy Williams, Friends of Manor Infant School

The deputation stressed how important they felt it was for parents in Holbury to have the opportunity to express a preference between a small infant school and a large primary school. They acknowledged that Manor Infant had higher costs, but that the school was popular, demand for places was high and it remained viable on its present scale for the foreseeable future. They saw opportunities to provide early years and community facilities on the Manor site. They felt that retention of Manor Infant School and amalgamation of the Holbury Schools to form a primary school were complementary proposals and they therefore supported the outcome of consultations and the decision taken by the Executive Member for Education.

Suzanne Lee, Headteacher and Adam Stote, Chairman of Governors - Holbury Infant School

The deputation acknowledged the challenge posed by falling pupil numbers and referred to the early years and community provision which they had been able to make to utilise surplus space at Holbury Infant. They expressed serious concerns at the prospects of selling some or all of the infant school land and the loss of the infant school building. They felt that the loss of space and parking provision would be seriously detrimental to the new primary school when established, and would result in congestion and road safety problems. They were also doubtful at the scale and impact of any proposed residential development on the infant school site. The infant school Headteacher and Governors remained positive about the amalgamation, would give it their full support and would take every opportunity to improve educational, social and community provision for local children and their families. They saw particular needs for youth, community, pre-school and other community facilities which in their view could be accommodated within the infant school building, and some of the land could be reused for recreational provision.

Fran Stanfield, Personal, Social and Health Education Teacher at Holbury Infant School

Mrs Stanfield drew attention to the social and community benefits provided by the infant school environment and its open space, which provided a valuable social and community resource which might be lost if some or all of the site were disposed of for residential development. She explained how the children at the infant school had taken ownership of amenities on the site, thereby developing their consciousness of community and citizenship. She stressed the importance of extended schools as a social and community resource as well as an educational one.

118 HOLBURY INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS - CLOSURE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL

With the agreement of the Chairman, the Committee received a short presentation from the local County Councillor, Lee Dunsdon. He supported the retention of Manor Infant School, but expressed concern at the prospect of losing the Holbury Infant site and buildings for redevelopment, especially in view of the traffic, congestion and parking problems which he believed were likely to ensue. Councillor Dunsdon welcomed the proposed early years provision at Holbury, but would have liked to see more details.

The Chairman then went on to read a letter from Councillor Brian Dash, who welcomed the commitment of all who had been involved in the reorganisation process and was confident that they would continue to cooperate in order to make the reorganisation work. He too wanted to see the changes improve educational, social and community facilities, with particular reference to the need for early years provision. He was also concerned at the implications of disposal of the Holbury Infant School site and would have preferred to see the buildings, and at least some of the site, re-used.

The County Education Officer presented the Local Education Authority's proposals (Item 5 in the Minute Book) for reorganisation of primary schools in Holbury and stressed the downward trend in primary school numbers which would lead to a total of 170 surplus places in the Holbury area by 2009 if action were not taken. He explained that the capital investment needed to extend Holbury Junior School in order to create the amalgamated primary school depended on capital receipts which would be derived from disposal of the infant school site. With regard to early years, there would be discussions with the local schools and community as to what form that should take in order that it might meet local needs and aspirations. With regard to timing, the Local Education Authority would be content to proceed on the basis of the suggested earlier start date of September 2005 instead of September 2006, if such an amendment was accepted by the Committee.

In response to questions, the County Education Officer confirmed that funding to implement the reorganisation was secure and that, whatever the outcome on disposal of the infant school, resources would be made available. He pointed out that one consequence of the amendment to implement the reorganisation a year earlier would be that the newly established primary school would for its first year have to operate in both infant and junior school premises, whilst building adaptation works to the junior school were carried out. Once these were completed the school would transfer to the extended junior school premises and the infant school site and buildings would become surplus to requirements. He went on to explain arrangements for staffing and the establishment of a temporary governing body for the amalgamated primary school, which would be responsible for making appointments of Headteacher and staff.

The Committee then went on to debate the proposals, and Councillor Don Allen - seconded by Councillor Michael Cartwright - put forward a proposal to modify the implementation date for the reorganisation, with the effect that Holbury Infant and Holbury Junior Schools would be discontinued with effect from 31 August 2005, and a new 420-place community primary school would be established with effect from 1 September 2005. Don Allen explained that, in strategic terms, his ideal solution would have been to discontinue all three schools and to establish a single primary school serving the Holbury area, but there was no prospect of sufficient capital resources being available to achieve that. In his view, the LEA's proposals represented the best available option for high quality primary education with early years provision to serve the Holbury area. He explained that the County Council would, in any event, need to review the future of the Holbury Infant School site in order to establish how much of it could be disposed of, what alternative uses would be appropriate and to obtain the necessary planning and other consents.

Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the proposals.

All groups in attendance unanimously approved the Local Education Authority's proposals with amendment to advance the implementation date from 2006 to 2005.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the Local Education Authority's amended proposals:

(i) To discontinue Holbury Infant School and Holbury Junior School, both in Whitefield Road, Holbury, with effect from 31 August 2005; and


(ii) To establish a new community primary school, to cater for 420 boys and girls, irrespective of ability, aged 4-11, in the premises of Holbury Junior School, with effect from 1 September 2005.

119 CALMORE INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS - ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITS FOR PUPILS WITH SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS

The County Education Officer presented the linked proposals of the Local Education Authority and governing body of Calmore Junior School (Item 6 in the Minute Book) to establish units for children with speech, language and communication needs at both schools. No objections had been received and there was general support for the proposals. The Committee therefore unanimously

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the linked proposals of the Local Education Authority and governing body of Calmore Junior School to establish units for children with speech, language and communication needs, with effect from 1 September 2005.

120 LANGDOWN INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS, HYTHE - PROPOSED AMALGAMATION

The Secretary to the Committee confirmed that no objections had been received in response to the public notices published on 19 March 2004, and accordingly the Local Education Authority had determined to implement the proposals to amalgamate Langdown Infant and Junior Schools, Hythe on the basis set out in the notice (Item 7 in the Minute Book refers).

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the action taken by the Local Education Authority.

121 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was reported that, if there were no objections to the Local Education Authority's proposals to close the Hawthorns Centre, Basingstoke by the closing date of 28 June, there would be no need to proceed with the next scheduled meeting of the SOC on 21 July. Members would be advised accordingly. The next subsequent meeting of SOC was likely to be on 15 September, when the Committee would be invited to appoint their Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Richard Lindley indicated that he would be prepared to continue acting in the office of Chairman until his successor was appointed. He thanked all Members and Officers of SOC for their support over the years. Members unanimously thanked Richard Lindley for his contribution as Chairman of the SOC for the past five years, and wished him well for the future.