Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday 8 December, 2006
PRESENT:
Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
Fred Allgood
Derek Blampied
Brian Dash
Ray Ellis
Peter Edgar
Robin Hughes
Church of England
Michael Hall
Brian Hay
Tony Blackshaw
School Governors
Jim Murray
Alan Fender
Tom Wickstead
Sylvia Vine (Chairman)
Apologies Received
Councillor Jeff Hockley - Hampshire County Council
Peter Gilliatt - Church of England
Mrs. Sheila Allen - Roman Catholic Church
Michael Whitty - Roman Catholic Church
Rachel McKellar - Learning and Skills Council
Geoff Strong - School Governors
Mrs. Roberta Smith - School Governors
153 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on Friday 22 September, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
154 MATTERS ARISING THEREON
Minute 148 - Bridgemary Community Sports College, Gosport - Establishment of a 14-19 Vocational Centre - The Secretary reported that the college governing body had withdrawn the proposals and accordingly the matter would not be considered at a future meeting of the Committee.
155 REVIEW OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PROVISION IN THE NORTH AND EAST ANDOVER AREA - SHEPHERDS SPRING INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS, ANDOVER - PROPOSED CLOSURE
[Councillor Robin Hughes representing Hampshire County Council declared a personal prejudicial interest in this item as the Chairman of Governors and as a parent of children attending one of the schools initially consulted as part of the review of primary school provision in the North and East Andover area, and accordingly left the room during consideration thereof].
The Committee received deputations as follows:-
Vince McGarry - Chairman of Governors, Shepherds Spring Infant School
The deputation informed the Committee that the infant school was at the forefront of primary education in that it was one of the first schools in Hampshire to establish a nurture group and other innovative initiatives to support families and the children attending the school. It was further suggested that to close the schools would be to the detriment of neighbouring schools and the pupils at the school. It was put forward that the Shepherds Spring Schools remain open and be turned into a primary school incorporating a Children's Centre which would then benefit the community's needs and provide stability for the children who would need to be relocated to neighbouring schools.
Mrs. Emma Crosweller
The deputation spoke on behalf of parents at both schools and explained the community sadness at the prospect of the two schools closing. Reference was made to the friendly and nurturing atmosphere at both schools which benefited the children. It was considered that moving the children to neighbouring schools would result in financial burden for some parents as they would need to purchase new school uniforms and incur increased travelling costs. Reference was also made to research that had established that moving a child from school to school could set their education back by up to 10 months. It was put forward that a one form entry primary school be created on the site of the two schools or at the very least the closure plans be put on hold until the East Anton development opened.
Councillor Len Gates, Test Valley Borough Councillor for Alamein Ward, Andover
The deputation covered the following points:
· The consultation was invalid because information presented was incomplete and gave an unbalanced picture of the demographics of the area.
· The consultation failed to take due notice of local opinion and did not make a fair assessment of alternative proposals.
· In making the decision officers and councillors failed to appreciate the detrimental affect this decision would have on local communities.
· The proposal was a short-term decision which failed to meet the long-term needs of the area in particular it failed to appreciate the changes in population expected as a result of the proposed MDAs in Andover.
In summary it was considered that the decision to close the schools was mistaken and it was put forward that the two schools should be amalgamated and the pupils be transferred to the East Anton development when available.
The Director of Children's Services presented the Local Education Authority's (LEA's) proposals (Item 3 in the Minute Book) to discontinue Shepherds Spring Infant School and Shepherds Spring Junior School at Smannell, Andover, in the Borough of Test Valley, with effect from 31 August, 2008. The Committee also considered the representations received following publication of notices along with the Director of Children's Services analysis of the representations.
The Director of Children's Services outlined the procedure and consultations that had taken place and informed the Committee that the proposals to discontinue Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools had been approved by Hampshire County Council's Cabinet on 24 July 2006. The main objectives of the proposals were to improve primary school provision whilst ensuring the best use of resources by reducing surplus places in line with the LEA's statutory responsibility for the management of school places. Furthermore, it was added that the strategy recognised that communities change over time, often requiring parallel changes to the existing school distribution.
In summary, it was explained that the proposals;
· Addresses the impact of demographic change;
· Provides new primary schools within the planned East Anton Major Development Area (MDA) as part of the local community infrastructure in line with County Council policy;
· Gives the opportunity to support and raise standards;
· Optimises the use of existing County Council resources by putting forward proposals for implementing the wider Children's Services agenda;
· Establishment of a full core Children's Centre;
· Relocation of Education Centre.
The Committee was referred to the forecast pupil numbers as set out in Section 3 of the Cabinet report of 24 July, 2006. The forecast pupil model was considered to be both robust and reliable and indicated that by 2011 there would be a significant surplus capacity at both schools. The Director of Children's Services also made reference to the educational standards at the schools in the review area and in particular at Shepherds Spring infant and junior schools.
Whilst the Committee clearly understood the strength of feeling of the local community, overall it was supportive of the wide ranging proposals and considered that they were driven for the right reasons. In particular, reference was made to the County Council's need to manage the high number of surplus school places in the area whilst planning for future demands and the fact that the proposals represented significant investment in services for children and families in Andover.
The Committee debated in detail the proposals and discussion centred on a number of issues including the capacity of neighbouring schools to accommodate pupils following the closures, the social needs of the local community, the initiatives run by the schools to support children and their families and the MDA at East Anton.
In response to queries from the Committee it was confirmed that there was sufficient capacity at neighbouring schools to accommodate pupils following the closure of Shepherds Spring infant and junior schools. In addition it was established that the Local Education Authority had considered the possibility of establishing an all through primary school on the site of Shepherds Spring infant and junior schools with a view to transferring in time pupils to the new school at East Anton. However following investigation it was established that a 5 form entry would need to be created and therefore this option had been discounted.
In conclusion the Director of Children's Services considered, taking into account all factors, the County Council was duty bound to manage school places for the benefit of children and young people in Hampshire and the discontinuation of the two schools was a means of further improving educational standards to the benefit of all children in the Andover area.
Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the proposals.
All groups in attendance unanimously approved the Local Education Authority's proposals for the reasons put forward by the Director of Children's Services. In particular it was considered that the proposals would help to improve primary school provision whilst ensuring the best use of resources by reducing surplus places in line with the LEA's statutory responsibility for the management of school places. Furthermore, it was considered that the proposal would give the opportunity to support and raise standards.
Accordingly it was RESOLVED:
To discontinue Shepherds Spring infant school and Shepherds Spring junior school with effect from 31 August, 2008.
156 MODIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTATION DATE - PROPOSED NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL AT DOWDS FARM, HEDGE END
The Committee considered the request from the LEA (Item 4 in the Minute Book) to modify the implementation date from 1 September 2007 to1 September, 2008. It was reported that due to unforeseen delays in completing the transfer of the school site from the developers, including additional work on drainage and archaeology, it was no longer practicable to undertake construction of the school in time for opening in September 2007. The revised construction timetable envisaged completion in time for the school to open in September, 2008. Accordingly the Committee were asked to modify the implementation date from 1 September 2007 to 1 September 2008.
It was noted that local schools had been kept informed of the revised timings of this proposal and places would be available at alternative schools for children moving into the new development during 2007/08.
RESOLVED:
That the implementation date be modified from 1 September 2007 to 1 September, 2008.
157 MODIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTATION DATE - KINGS COPSE PRIMARY SCHOOL, HEDGE END - ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIT FOR PUPILS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
The Committee considered the request from the LEA (Item 5 in the Minute Book) to modify the implementation date from 1 September 2007 to 1 September 2008.
It was reported that due to unforeseen delays in obtaining approval from the Secretary of State to the disposal of part of the school site, a revised construction programme was required and it was envisaged that completion would be made in September 2008. It was noted that the head teacher and school governing body had been kept fully advised of the progress of this proposal.
RESOLVED:
That the implementation date be modified from 1 September 2007 to 1 September 2008.
158 MODIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTATION DATE - REORGANISATION OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN EAST HAMPSHIRE
The Committee considered the request from the LEA (Item 6 in the Minute Book) to modify the implementation date from 31 March/1April 2006 to 31 August 2006 for The Meadow and Whitedown Schools and to1 September 2006 for Hollywater School.
It was noted that approval was given to the closure of the Meadow and Whitedown Schools, and establishment of Hollywater School, at the Committee on 23 May 2003. The approved implementation dates were 31 March/1 April 2006. The Committee were informed that a delay in undertaking building works meant that these dates could not be met. It was therefore proposed that the Meadow and Whitedown Schools be closed on 31 August 2006 and Hollywater School be established with effect from 1 September 2006.
As the matter before the Committee related to retrospective approval the Committee took into consideration Counsel's opinion on this matter.
RESOLVED:
That retrospective approval be given to modify the implementation date from 31 March/1 April 2006 to 31 August 2006 for the Meadow and Whitedown Schools and to 1 September 2006 for Hollywater School with effect from the date of the meeting.
159 SCHOOL ORGANISATION BUDGET 2005/06 AND 2006/07
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council (Item 7 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposed budget of the Committee in respect of the financial year 2005/06. The report also gave details of the Committee's expenditure to date for 2006/07. It was noted that the estimated cost for seeking independent advice in relation to Minute 158 was lower than anticipated and the actual cost was £300 plus VAT.
RESOLVED:
That the statement of estimated expenses be submitted to the County Council for approval.
158 FUTURE MEETING DATES
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting was 16 February 2007 and Members were advised that if there were no objections to the LEA's proposals to Frogmore Community College there would not be a need to proceed with that meeting. Members would be advised accordingly. The next scheduled meeting of the Committee was 20 April 2007.