Contact: Ian Lawson, Strategic Planning Officer (01962 846350; e-mail: [email protected]), telephone 01962 846350

1 Summary

1.1 It is recommended that the Executive Member for Education should be advised to approve the publication of the 2005 Revision of the School Organisation Plan, taking account of comments received in the course of consultation with schools and other interested parties.

2 School Organisation Plan

2.1 It was a requirement of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 that all local education authorities should produce a School Organisation Plan (SOP). The last full plan, covering the period 2003/04 to 2007/08 was approved by the School Organisation Committee on 16 December 2003 and a non-statutory revision was approved by the Executive Member for Education on 9 December 2004.

2.2 The requirement to publish a SOP was repealed with effect from 1 March 2005, in the light of the duty under the Children Act 2004 for the publication of a Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP).

2.3 As well as being a position statement on policies guiding the provision of school places, the SOP is a valuable planning tool to respond to new developments and the need to review surplus places. As it is unlikely that the CYPP will contain the level of detail set out in the SOP, it is considered prudent to publish a revision of the SOP to take account of the latest data and projections. The future of the SOP will be considered in conjunction with the preparation of the CYPP.

2.4 The data and factual statements in the approved SOP have been updated to cover the period 2004/05 to 2009/10. On 25 May 2005 the Executive Member for Education agreed that this 2005 Revision should be published for consultation with schools and other interested parties and that the outcome should be considered by the Policy Review Committee.

3 Outcome of consultation

3.1 Copies of the draft 2005 Review were sent to all county councillors (following the June 2005 election), other members of the Children's Services Policy Review Committee and the School Organisation Committee, other County Council departments, the Chief Executive and Director of Planning for each district and borough council in Hampshire, adjoining local education authorities and organisations such as the local Learning and Skills Council. The draft was also published on the County Council's web-site and communications sent to all head teachers and chairs of governors inviting comment. A closing date of 9 September was given for responses to be submitted.

3.2 Eight responses were received during the consultation period, and details are given in Appendix 1 to this report, along with suggested revisions to the text where appropriate. The opportunity has also been taken to make a few minor corrections. (All changes made are underlined in the text of the plan).

3.3 The revised text of the plan is attached as Appendix 2 and this will be submitted to the Executive Member for Education on 26 October 2005. If approved, the plan will be published on the County Council's web-site and copies distributed to those who received the draft. Copies will also be placed in public libraries and information centres.

4 Corporate aims and objectives and five outcomes

4.1 The link with the County Council's corporate aims is explained in the introduction to the plan and a paragraph has been added in relation to the five outcomes of the Children Act.

4.2 The five outcomes specified in the Children Act are set out below, with a summary of how the plan contributes to their achievement:

· being healthy (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) :- by considering options which will maximise opportunities for children to walk to school, thus increasing opportunities for exercise and reducing car dependence;

· staying safe (being protected from harm and neglect) :- by having access to a secure learning environment;

· enjoying and achieving (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood) :- by providing a high standard of education for children in suitable buildings, where possible within their own community;

· making a positive contribution (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour) :- by safeguarding friendship and neighbourhood groups by allowing for primary education to be provided as close to pupils' homes as reasonably practicable;

· economic well-being (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) :- by ensuring that proposals will not disadvantage children and will protect equality of opportunity

5 Legal implications

5.1 None

6 Financial implications

6.1 None

7 Personnel implications

7.1 None

8 Impact assessment

8.1 Race and equality have been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified. The plan includes policies to promote inclusiveness and equality in access to school provision.

9 Views of local County Councillors

9.1 All county councillors have had the opportunity to comment on the consultation draft.

Recommendation

That the Executive Member for Education be advised to approve the School Organisation Plan (2005 Revision), as amended following consultation with schools and other interested parties.

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.

TITLE

Guidance on preparing and agreeing a School Organisation Plan (DfES, May 2003)

Appendix 1

Draft School Organisation Plan (2005 Revision)

Responses to consultation