Contact: Peter Colenutt - Assistant Education Officer (School Review)

Telephone: 01962 846157; e-mail: [email protected]

Alex Munro - Education Officer (Admissions and Special Projects)

Telephone: 01962 846462; e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

The following decision is sought:

1 That the Executive Member for Education approve the undertaking of local consultations during March 2006 on the following proposals, with a report back to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee in July:

a) the establishment of two new 2fe primary schools at East Anton, the first anticipated for September 2008;

and either

b) the closure of Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools and the transfer of pupils to Knights Enham Infant and Junior and Roman Way Primary Schools

or

the closure of Knights Enham Infant and Junior Schools and the transfer of pupils to Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior and Roman Way Primary Schools

2 That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be asked to undertake feasibility work in relation to the above options.

2 Reason

The issues raised in this report reflect the County Council's corporate aims and the local authority's statutory duty under the Children Act to address the five outcomes to improve "the well-being of children in the authority's area". These are described in more detail in section 10 of this report.

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

See section 8.6 of the main report.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

None

Approved by: Date:

Councillor D A Kirk

Executive Member for Education

Contact: Peter Colenutt - Assistant Education Officer (School Review)

Telephone: 01962 846157; e-mail: [email protected]

Alex Munro - Education Officer (Admissions and Special Projects)

Telephone: 01962 846462; e-mail: [email protected]

7 Summary

7.1 This report considers potential developments and investment opportunities in the Andover area during the next few years to support the Change for Children Programme. The report recommends that consultations be undertaken on a strategy to invest in the local community and manage primary school places in the Andover area to meet the demand for additional primary school places from new housing developments and to ensure the best use of resources by reducing surplus places.

7.2 The report identifies issues both for immediate and later action. It specifically draws on the need to produce a strategy for an integrated programme of investment in the community over a number of years. The programme will begin with a focus on the provision of primary places in the Andover area and the need to respond to new housing developments.

7.3 The report from central government's Planning Inspectorate following the public inquiry into Test Valley Borough Council's (TVBC) Local Plan Review was published on 11 November 2005 and makes specific reference to the two proposed Major Development Areas (MDAs) at Picket Twenty and East Anton. The inspector considers that Picket Twenty is not a suitable location for new housing development but recommends approval of East Anton. The map at Appendix A shows the location of Andover schools and the two proposed development areas.

8 Background

2.1 Andover is the largest town in the Test Valley borough. The Borough Council's website states that Andover's status as a quiet country market town changed dramatically from 1961 when it was designated as an expanding town for London to move industry and people to Hampshire. New housing developments were planned for the increase in population, industrial estates were laid out and schools, shops, roads and other amenities followed. Under the Local Government Reorganisation of 1974, Andover became part of Test Valley District Council (later to become Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC)).

2.2 The Andover town area is served by 15 primary schools, three secondary schools, four special schools, one with an attached early years centre, and one education centre at Cricklade College catering mainly for excluded pupils. The overall number of children in the area will increase as a result of the housing developments but, in line with county-wide trends, this is paralleled by a decline in the number of primary aged children in the more established housing developments in the north and east of Andover.

2.3 The current picture of social care provision in the area reflects recent decisions in respect of the Woodend/Copsehill site on the outskirts of Andover where the children's home has been closed. The family centre on the same site has been relocated to the Children's Services Area Centre in the town. Provision for children with disabilities, overnight respite, day and sessional care is purchased from Mencap through a contractual arrangement and is located at Stephen's Ark in Andover.

2.4 Development needs likely to have an impact on the delivery of children's services over the next 10 years are as follows:

Primary school provision	_ The management of school places to cater for the proposed MDAs and to ensure the best use of existing provision
Secondary school provision	_ Potential impact of MDAs on secondary provision
Special school provision	_ Consideration of resourced mainstream provision
Education Centre	_ Discussions continue with Cricklade College to provide more suitable accommodation
Extended schools	_ Need to provide for the government's extended schools agenda
Children's centres	_ Seek appropriate locations for the establishment of children's centres

2.5 Outline planning applications have been submitted to Test Valley Borough Council for 2,500 dwellings at East Anton and 1,200 dwellings at Picket Twenty. The proposed developments are located in the areas served by Smannell and Enham CE Primary School and Vigo Infant and Junior Schools respectively, although these schools are not easily accessible from either of the developments. It is anticipated that the first houses at East Anton will be occupied in 2007 and, on the basis of previous experience, the completed development is forecast to generate between 600-800 primary aged children.

2.6 If the development at Picket Twenty goes ahead, despite the inspector's comments, this would be likely to generate around 300-400 primary age pupils. Test Valley Borough Council will be considering the inspector's report in the spring of 2006 and will decide whether to accept its recommendations. This paper, therefore, does not consider Picket Twenty any further but, if development at Picket Twenty or any other area does proceed, there will be further consultations about primary school provision.

2.7 Changes in local demography and housing development to the north and east of Andover have led to an appraisal of the demand for, and supply of, primary school places. This report sets out various options which are designed to provide an improved pattern of primary school provision and investment in the local community. This might be achieved through the establishment of new primary schools in the new developments and capital investment at other schools in the area to rationalise and improve teaching and learning facilities. As part of the overall strategy to improve provision for Andover children, it will be necessary to consider whether all existing schools will be needed in the future.

2.8 In summary, local consultations will provide the opportunity to consider an investment strategy designed wherever possible to:

· match school places to local demand;

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

· meet the need for resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs;

· enhance early years provision;

· offer opportunities for improved facilities in schools for community use consistent with the Children Act 2004 and the extended schools agenda;

· improve facilities for excluded pupils.

2.9 The issues raised in this report reflect the County Council's corporate aims and the local authority's statutory duty under the Children Act to address the five outcomes to improve "the well-being of children in the authority's area". These are described in more detail in section 10 of this report.

9 Primary schools in the Andover area

9.1 Andover town is currently served by 15 primary schools (see Table 1), with a capacity of 3,416 places. Information about Smannell and Enham CE Primary School is also included in the table because the East Anton major development area (MDA) lies within its catchment area. The forecast numbers on roll at the Andover town schools (excluding the new housing developments) for September 2010 total 2,904 pupils, thus leaving 512 surplus places (15% of capacity).

9.2 There is sufficient capacity in primary schools in the area to accommodate the children from the initial housing completions, although not enough for all those likely to be generated by the completed developments. In keeping with planning applications of this nature and scale, land has been reserved within the development at East Anton to provide two 2 form entry (fe) 420 place 4-11 age range primary schools (60 pupils per year group). (Land has also been allocated for a new primary school at Picket Twenty if development goes ahead.) The County Council's policy, set out in the School Organisation Plan, is to provide new primary schools within major new developments wherever possible. Significant developers' contributions towards the cost of building any new schools are anticipated.

9.3 Many children attending Andover primary schools achieve good standards in the core subjects of English and mathematics.  Analysis of performance data shows that they generally make appropriate progress in both subjects in their primary years.  However, rarely do the town's primary schools feature in the upper quartile for the value they add, i.e. the progress made by pupils beyond what might be expected from their previous performance.  In 2005, 77% of children attending Andover town schools reached the expected standard in English and 68% the expected national standard in mathematics.  This compares with figures for Hampshire as a whole of 82% and 78% respectively.

9.4 This difference can be explained by a complex mix of reasons associated with socio-economic context and educational provision.  Nonetheless, these children are at a disadvantage when they move on to secondary school and this review provides an opportunity to enhance provision in a way that supports schools in raising educational standards.

9.5 Andover primary schools - accommodation and pupil numbers Table 1 gives information about all Andover town schools and Smannell and Enham CE School, based on numbers on roll in September 2005. It excludes pupils expected from new developments.

9.6 It is important to note that the published admission number (PAN ) given for each school is the one proposed for 2007. This reflects governors' requests to reduce capacity at Knights Enham Infant and Vigo Junior to match the same-site linked infant or junior school. The PAN has also been reduced at Shepherds Spring Junior to bring the PAN into line with the capacity. These adjustments will therefore give a more realistic assessment of future surplus places but can only be confirmed in March 2006 as part of the determination of the local authority's admission arrangements for 2007/08.

9.7 Table 1

(1) Published Admission Number - this determines the number of pupils to be admitted to the school at Year R or Year 3 (junior schools) and is based on the accommodation available.

(2) Including places for statemented pupils admitted each year to resourced SEN provision for Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)

(3) 30 places in a single temporary classroom

9.8 Table 2 lists those primary schools in east and north Andover which are nearest to the proposed housing development; several of these schools have high numbers of unfilled places and will be the focus of this review. Smannell and Enham CE Primary School has been excluded from Table 2 because of difficult access from the proposed development and an informal indication from governors that they would be reluctant to envisage expansion.

9.9 Table 2 - primary schools adjacent to proposed housing developments

Schools	Net capacity	PAN	Pupil Numbers		Number surplus places		% surplus places
			Sep 05	Sep 10	Sep 05	Sep 10	Sep 05	Sep 10
Knights Enham Infant	150	45	95	85	55	65	36.7%	43.3%
Knights Enham Junior	180	45	177	123	3	57	1.7%	31.7%
Roman Way Primary	210	30	174	165	36	45	17.1%	21.4%
Shepherds Spring Infant	150	50	105	80	45	70	30%	46.7%
Shepherds Spring Junior	200	50	113	74	87	126	43.5%	63%
Vigo Infant	180	60	173	170	7	10	3.9%	5.6%
Vigo Junior	237	60	259	197	-22	40	-9.3%	16.9%
Totals	1307	340	1096	894	211	413	16.1%	31.6%

10 Schools listed in Table 2 - further information

Knights Enham Infant School

10.1 This school is currently a 2 fe infant school. A parent/community room has recently been provided through joint funding from the County Council's community budget, Test Valley Borough Council and the school. The school is forecast to have 65 surplus places (43.3% of capacity) in five years time. It is proposed that the PAN be reduced from 60 to 45 with effect from 2007 to match the junior school. This will be achieved by re-designating classrooms for specialist use.

Knights Enham Junior School

10.2 Knights Enham Junior School has reduced its PAN to 45 with effect from 2006 admissions to reflect the re-designation of two classrooms as specialist accommodation. This reduction in capacity to 180 places will leave the school with 57 forecast surplus places (31.7% of capacity) in five years time.

Roman Way Primary School

10.3 Roman Way is a 1 fe primary school catering for pupils aged 4 - 11. In five years time the school is forecast to have 45 surplus places (21.4% of capacity). This school is closest to East Anton and would therefore be able to admit the first children coming from the new development.

Shepherds Spring Infant School

10.4 Originally built as a 180 place (PAN 60) infant school, the school now operates as a 150 place school with 70 surplus places (46.7% of capacity) expected in five years.

Shepherds Spring Junior School

10.5 Shepherds Spring Junior is a 200 place junior school expected to have 126 surplus places (63% of capacity) in five years time. It was originally built as a 240 place (PAN 60) junior school. The 2007 PAN will be 50 to reflect the accommodation now available.

Vigo Infant School

10.6 This school is now a 2 fe infant school, following the local authority's agreement to reduce the PAN to 60 by re-designating teaching accommodation to create specialist facilities and to reflect the lower number of pupils attending the school. Projected numbers show that there will be ten spare places in 2010 (5.6%).

Vigo Junior School

10.7 This school is currently a 3 fe junior school with a capacity of 357 places. It is proposed to reduce the PAN from 90 to 60 with effect from 2007 by re-designating classrooms for specialist accommodation to match the infant school. This reduction has been reflected in tables 1 and 2 which show 40 surplus places in 2010 (16.9%).

11 Early Years Education and Childcare and Extended Schools

Early Years Education and Childcare

11.1 A recent audit carried out by the Early Education and Childcare Unit identified a deficit of 65 free early years education (EYE) places in the Alamein ward in which the Knights Enham and Shepherds Spring schools are situated. There are similar deficits in neighbouring wards.

11.2 There is a maintained nursery unit housed in two classrooms in Knights Enham Infant School. Shepherds Spring Junior School runs a breakfast club. Also in the Alamein ward is a privately run pre-school and nursery registered for 77 children, offering both full day care and sessions.

11.3 The Acorns Early Years Centre is part of the nursery provision based at Norman Gate Special School which shares a campus with the Vigo Schools, Winton School (Specialist School - Technology) and Mark Way Special School.

11.4 There are a number of private providers offering a range of childcare options in the area. Latest information suggests that both childminders and day nurseries have vacancies.

11.5 Areas covered by the review have been identified for provision of children's centres and plans for these will need to be integrated with options emerging from the consultation. The government's Sure Start programme envisages a network of centres across the county, offering information, advice and support to parents/carers as well as early years provision of integrated childcare and early learning, health services, outreach and employment advice for disadvantaged families.

11.6 Early years provision will need to be carefully reviewed as part of any consultation procedure. The County Council is working in partnership with TVBC to ensure there is adequate and appropriate provision for pre-school children living in the proposed developments.

Extended schools

11.7 By 2010, all schools are expected to provide access to a core of extended services with half of all primary schools doing so by 2008. The core offer will include:

· High quality childcare for working parents provided on the school site or through other local providers, available from 8am to 6pm all year round

· A varied menu of study support to be on offer, such as homework clubs, `catch up' provision, gifted and talented provision, special interest clubs and activities

· Parenting support including programmes run with the support of other children's services and family learning sessions allowing parents to learn with their children

· Swift and easy referral to a wide range of specialist support services for families and children

· Wider community access to ICT, sport and arts facilities.

11.8 The Andover Family Learning partnership operates as part of the Harrow Way Community School's programme and already delivers family learning activities at a number of the primary schools mentioned in this report. All the schools listed in Table 2 are already working in partnership with Harrow Way on a project to develop capacity for delivering extended school services, supported by a Standards Fund Grant. The review will seek opportunities for the possible co-location of support services on school sites as integrated local teams are established.

12 Special Education Needs provision

12.1 There are four special schools in Andover:

· Icknield School: 2 - 19 years (severe learning difficulties)

· The Mark Way School: 11 - 16 years (moderate learning difficulties/autistic spectrum disorder)

· Norman Gate School including Acorns Early Years Centre: 2 - 11 years (moderate learning difficulties/autistic spectrum disorder)

· Wolverdene Special School: 5 - 11 years (behavioural, emotional and social difficulties)

12.2 There is resourced Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) provision at both Vigo Infant and Vigo Junior Schools. A need has also been identified for seven resourced BESD (behavioural, emotional and social difficulties) places at a mainstream primary school in the Andover area.

13 Proposed strategy

13.1 The County Council's policy, as set out in the School Organisation Plan (2005 update), is to provide new primary schools within major new housing developments where possible, and also to take steps to reduce surplus provision in areas where pupil numbers are falling. The SOP sets out preferred sizes for different types of schools. For example, a 4 - 11 primary school should, wherever possible, fall within the 210 - 630 range. Infant and junior schools should have at least two forms of entry (60 pupils per year) but no more than five forms of entry (150 per year).

13.2 The strategy for future primary school provision in Andover should have regard to these policies by taking a strategic view of the area and its future needs. The benefit from developers' contributions must be maximised, which can be done only if surpluses at nearby schools are at reasonable levels and opportunities explored to generate capital receipts from the sale of surplus land for reinvestment in local provision.

14 Future primary school provision in Andover

14.1 In order to meet the long-term need and effect of changing demography, the following two related, but distinct, factors need to be considered:

· The additional children expected from the East Anton development;

· The increasing number of surplus primary places.

14.2 Any strategy for future primary school provision in Andover therefore needs to take account of the following issues:

· the need to build new schools in the development areas to serve their communities, in keeping with the County Council's policy set out in the School Organisation Plan;

· the importance of ensuring that developers' contributions from new housing areas are maximised.

· the growing numbers of surplus places in the established communities in north and east Andover;

· the close proximity to each other of the primary schools in these areas (Table 2);

· the need to invest in children's services and community provision in these areas.

Proposals for consultation - Section A

School provision in East Anton

14.3 A new 2fe primary school at East Anton would open from September 2008. As the development progresses, a second school would be established. This would mean that one of the proposals in Section B would need to be implemented if surplus places were to be reduced in the area under review.

Proposals for consultation - Section B

Close Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools and transfer pupils to Knights Enham Infant and Junior and Roman Way Schools

14.4 A combined total of 154 pupils is expected to be attending the Shepherds Spring Schools in 2010. The planned reduction in capacity at Knights Enham Infant would leave 167 spare places forecast for the Knights Enham and Roman Way Schools by the same time. This would reduce the overall surplus in Table 2 to 6.6%.

or

Close Knights Enham Infant and Junior Schools and transfer pupils to Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior and Roman Way Schools

14.5 208 pupils are forecast for January 2010 at the Knights Enham schools. It would be possible to accommodate these in the 241 places projected to be available at the Shepherds Spring and Roman Way Schools. This would reduce the overall surplus in Table 2 to 8.5%.

Other options - Section C

14.6 Consideration has also been given to the amalgamation of Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools and Knights Enham Infant and Junior Schools to create a 4-11 primary schools of 210 places (1 fe) on each site. Although current number on roll projections indicate that there would be sufficient pupils (208) to justify this option at Knights Enham, this would not be the case at Shepherds Spring where the 154 pupils projected fall well below the 210 level recommended in the School Organisation Plan. This proposal has therefore been rejected and is not put forward for consultation.

15 Financial implications

9.1 It is proposed that feasibility work be carried out by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services. When this has been completed the financial implications of various options will be clearer. It is intended that projects should be self-funded through developer contributions/capital receipts with any further contributions coming from the Children's Services capital programme.

9.2 Discussions with the landowners/developers and Test Valley Borough Council will continue with the aim of maximising the developers' contributions and capital receipts from the sale of any surplus land on existing sites, to ensure the financial viability of the proposed strategy. A detailed financial appraisal will form part of the report back on the outcomes of consultation to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee and Cabinet in July 2006.

9 Corporate aims and the five outcomes of the Children Act

9.1 The proposals in this paper link to 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 additional school places;

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

9.2 The five outcomes specified in the Children Act are set out below, with a summary of how the proposals in this report contribute 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 or cycle 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 providing primary education 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 be to the benefit of all children and give them a sound start to their schooling and future ability to provide both for themselves and their families.

10 Consultations

10.1 Informal meetings have been held between local authority officers and representatives of local primary, secondary and special schools to consider the impact of the proposed housing developments and falling rolls in the area.

11.2 If consultations are agreed, formal meetings will be arranged with governors, staff and parents of all schools potentially affected. In addition, consultations will also be carried out with local councillors, the Teachers' Liaison Panel, Test Valley Borough Council, parish councils, Local Strategic Partnerships, the Primary Care Trust, the Diocese of Winchester, the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth and the local Learning and Skills Council. It will also be important to ensure that the wider local community is given every opportunity to comment.

11 County Council Policy Requirements

11.1 Legal implications - The proposals comply with the statutory framework for planning school places.

11.2 Financial implications - None arising directly from this report.

11.3 Personnel implications - None as a direct result of the recommendations in this paper. However, if any school were to close as a result of the proposed review, every effort would be made to redeploy staff into appropriate alternative posts and to avoid redundancies. Clear procedures are in place agreed with professional associations and unions.

11.4 Impact assessment - Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

11.5 Cohesion, inclusiveness and partnership working - These issues will be considered as part of the consultation.

11.6 Crime prevention issues - the enhancement of community cohesion and partnership working will contribute positively to crime prevention.

Recommendations

3 That the Executive Member for Education approve the undertaking of local consultations during March 2006 on the following proposals, with a report back to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee in July:

a) the establishment of two new 2fe primary schools at East Anton, the first anticipated for September 2008;

and either

b) the closure of Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools and the transfer of pupils to Knights Enham Infant and Junior and Roman Way Primary Schools

or

the closure of Knights Enham Infant and Junior Schools and the transfer of pupils to Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior and Roman Way Primary Schools

4 That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be asked to undertake feasibility work in relation to the above options.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have 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.

None