Contact: Chris Holt, 5673; e-mail: [email protected]

Peter Colenutt, 6157; e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

a. That public notices be published in accordance with Sections 28 and 29 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1988, to:

· Discontinue Burnham Copse Infant School and Burnham Copse Junior School with effect from 1 December 2006 and

· Establish a new one form entry community primary school, to cater for 210 pupils aged 4 - 11 plus pre-school provision in remodelled buildings on the Burnham Copse Junior School site, with effect from 1 January 2007;

b. That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services undertake a feasibility study to consider the possible alternative uses of the redundant school building and report to Cabinet in March 2006 on the findings of the study and a capital strategy for funding the work to establish the primary school.

2 Reason

2.1 These decisions support the following Corporate Aims:

· Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities, by developing strategies for the most appropriate educational provision;

· Aim 4 - building strong and safe communities, by taking full account of community and neighbourhood issues when deciding upon how best to meet the demand for school places;

· Aim 5 - improving services, by considering solutions which will contribute to the raising of educational standards.

2.2 These decisions support the aims of the Children Act:

· Being healthy (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) - by the provision of a facility and environment where action is taken to promote children's physical health;

· 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 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 safe-guarding friendship and neighbourhood groups by allowing for primary education to be provided as close to people's homes as reasonably practicable;

· Economic well-being (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) - by the provision of and environment which will not disadvantage children and will protect quality of opportunity, setting them on the road to achieving economic well-being.

3 Other Options considered and rejected - None.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker - None.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6 Reason for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ................................... Date: ...............................
Councillor T K Thornber, CBE