Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday 22 September, 2006
PRESENT:
Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
Fred Allgood
Derek Blampied
Brian Dash
Ray Ellis
Peter Edgar
Jeff Hockley
Robin Hughes
Church of England
David Hallam (alternate member for Michael Hall)
Brian Hay
Peter Gilliat
Roman Catholic Church
Mrs. Urszula Topp
Mrs. Sheila Allen
Michael Whitty
Learning and Skills Council
Stephanie Quant
School Governors
Jim Murray
Alan Fender
Sylvia Vine
Geoff Strong
Apologies Received
Tony Blackshaw - Church of England
Mrs. Roberta Smith - School Governors
143 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED:
That Mrs. Sylvia Vine from the School Governors Group be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.
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SYLVIA VINE IN THE CHAIR
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144 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED:
That Peter Edgar from the Hampshire County Council Group be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
145 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on Friday 4 February, 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
146 HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE - CONSTITUTION
The Committee considered the joint report of the Secretary and Legal Advisor (Item 5 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposed revisions to the Constitution of the Committee.
The Committee were advised that the suggested amendments to the Constitution had been prompted by legislative changes and other requirements, requests by two schools for the Committee to undertake site inspections and a complaint regarding the late arrival of a committee member at a meeting. In addition, amendments were suggested in connection with paragraphs 10 and 11 (Modifications and Conditions) in the interests of simplifying these procedures.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the following wording be included at Paragraph 5.7 of the Constitution:-
"The Committee shall not normally undertake site inspections in relation to any matter being considered by the Committee. If a member has visited a school which is linked to a statutory proposal being considered by the Committee, he or she must consider, in accordance with Paragraph 2.3.2, whether it is necessary to declare an interest and withdraw from the meeting".
(b) That the following wording be included at Paragraph 5.4 of the Constitution:-
"In respect of each question or other recommendation to be decided, a Member must be present at all stages of the decision making process in order to be able to vote on the matter. For the avoidance of doubt, the decision making process excludes any site visit that may have been conducted by the Committee but includes any deputation relevant to the matter to be decided and, if applicable, the entire period of time that the Members Group convenes, in accordance with Paragraph 9.2(g), to consider how and whether to cast its single vote".
(c) That the following wording be included at Paragraph 11.4 of the Constitution:-
"If the Proposer is present at the meeting, the Committee shall give the Proposer the opportunity of commenting on the proposed condition prior to the Committee voting on the proposal. Having listened to the Proposer's comments, if any, the Committee shall adjourn for the Groups to consider how to cast their single votes on the proposal (in accordance with the procedure set out in Paragraph 9.2)".
(d) That the relevant paragraphs of the Constitution be amended to accurately reflect the current legislative requirements relating to the composition of the Schools Group.
(e) That Paragraph 9.2 (k) of the Constitution be amended to reflect The Education (New Secondary School Proposals) (England) proposals involving secondary school competitions.
(f) That Paragraph 8.7 of the Constitution be amended to reflect The Education (School Organisation Proposals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 restricting the circumstances in which the Committee may choose to refer a proposal to the adjudicator. In addition, the Committee has adopted the DfES' Guidance regarding abstention of an entire Group where the majority/equal number of those in the Group have a personal interest in the matter to be decided.
(g) That the schedule to the Constitution be amended to reflect the requirement, in specified circumstances, to publish a statutory proposal in order to close one site of a multi-sited school and the repeal of the requirement for an Local Education Authority to produce a School Organisation Plan (SOP).
(h) That a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Constitution be made to clarify existing provisions. Examples of the most significant miscellaneous amendments are set out in Paragraph 6 of the Committee report.
147 APPLEMORE COLLEGE, DIBDEN PURLIEU - CLOSURE OF SIXTH FORM
Councillor Brian Dash declared a prejudicial interest in the following item as a Governor of Applemore College and left the meeting during discussion thereon.
The Chairman of Governors presented the proposals of the Governing Body of Applemore College (Item 6 in the Minute Book). The Committee also considered the prescribed information to change the age range so that the College ceased to provide sixth form education with effect from 31 July, 2008.
The Chairman of Governors circulated a document summarising the background and circumstances leading to the proposal to close the sixth form. The Committee were advised that the Governing Body's decision to close the sixth form had been taken very reluctantly. The Committee were advised that there were currently no students in the sixth form, that the final admission of sixth form students was proposed in the published notice as being in September, 2006 and funding and changes in curriculum had also been contributory factors in the Governing Body's proposal to remove the sixth form. There was also recognition that the College was unable to provide the breadth of curriculum and adequate sixth form experience for students. The Chairman of Governors also considered that there was excellent local alternative 16-18 provision for Waterside students at five other local educational establishments, all of which had good transport facilities. It was noted that the College had consulted the local providers and had in place systems to enable students to access information and application forms to attend meetings and to make visits.
In view of the fact that no representations had been received in response to the public notices published on 6 July, 2006 and for the reasons outlined, the Governing Body put forward a modification to close the sixth form with effect from July, 2007 rather than July, 2008 as stated in public notice. Verbal consultation was undertaken at the meeting and the Committee were satisfied that that no members of staff had been disadvantaged and noted that the staff directly affected had been redeployed elsewhere in the College. In conclusion the Committee considered that the change in status would enable the College to focus on maintaining quality provision at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
RESOLVED:
That sixth form provision at Applemore College, Dibden Purlieu be discontinued with effect from 31 July, 2007.
148 BRIDGEMARY COMMUNITY SPORTS COLLEGE, GOSPORT - ESTABLISHMENT OF A 14-19 VOCATIONAL CENTRE
The Committee considered the request from the college Governing Body (Item 7 in the Minute Book) for the deferment of consideration of the proposals. The Learning and Skills Council also circulated at the meeting further information to support the deferment of the item.
RESOLVED:
That the proposal of Bridgemary Community Sports College, Gosport be deferred to a future meeting of the Committee.
149 REORGANISATION OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN EAST HAMPSHIRE
The Committee considered the request from the Local Education Authority (Minute No. 8 in the Minute Book) to modify the implementation date in respect of the proposals. In considering the modification the Legal Adviser advised that the Committee had no powers to retrospectively modify the implementation date and suggested that the item be deferred pending Counsel's opinion.
RESOLVED:
That modification to the implementation date in respect of the proposals be deferred pending Counsel's opinion.
150 PROPOSED NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL AT DOWDS FARM, HEDGE END
The Secretary to the Committee confirmed that no objections had been received in response to the public notices published on 8 April, 2005 and accordingly the LEA had determined to implement the proposals as set out in the notice (Item 9 in the Minute Book refers).
RESOLVED:
That the Committee note the action taken by the LEA.
151 KINGS COPSE PRIMARY SCHOOL, HEDGE END - ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIT FOR PUPILS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
The Secretary to the Committee confirmed that no objections had been received in response to the public notices published on 1 September, 2005 and accordingly the LEA had determined to implement the proposals as set out in the notice (Item 10 in the Minute Book refers).
RESOLVED:
That the Committee note the action taken by the LEA.
152 FUTURE MEETING DATE
The Committee noted the future meeting date of 8 December, 2006 at 10.15 a.m in Ashburton Court Conference Room, The Castle, Winchester.