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EXTRACT FROM CHILDREN'S SERVICES POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE RELATING TO REVIEW OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PROVISION IN THE NORTH AND EAST OF ANDOVER

AT A MEETING of the CHILDREN'S SERVICES POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 18 July, 2006.

Also present were Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE, Executive Lead Member for Children's Services and Councillor David Kirk, Executive Member for Education who attended the afternoon session.

STRATEGY FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL PROVISION IN THE NORTH EAST OF ANDOVER

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing proposals for the future pattern of primary school provision in North East Andover.


The Director of Children's Services reported that the County Council had a statutory duty to plan the provision of school places and to secure an appropriate balance locally between supply and demand and must therefore consider how best to manage surplus school places. The report highlighted that by 2011 four schools in north-east Andover would show surplus places in excess of 25%. The District Auditor had indicated in a letter that the County Council must take measures to reduce the number of schools with surplus places above 25%.

It was also reported that the County Council must take into account the future needs of people moving into the major development area planned for East Anton. This would comprise 2,500 new homes, with an expected 600 - 800 primary children. Planning permission from Test Valley Borough Council for the development was expected later in 2006, with the first houses being occupied in late 2007. Land had been earmarked within the development site to provide two 420 place, two form entry, primary schools, the first opening in 2009.

As part of its commitment to the Children Act to ensure the best possible outcomes for children, the Director of Children's Services advised that the County Council must relocate the Andover Education Centre, currently based at Cricklade College, which supported excluded pupils and aimed to re-integrate them into mainstream schooling. As a further investment for local families the County Council also proposed to establish a new Children's Centre on the Shepherd's Spring Infant School site offering a wide range of facilities and services for children, their families and carers as part of its Sure-Start programme.

The recommendations from officers to the Cabinet are set out below and the views of the Committee were requested:


¬ A new two form entry primary school be established at East Anton to serve the new development, to open in September 2009.

¬ Shepherd's Spring Infant and Junior Schools be closed with effect from August 2008.

¬ Discussions take place with governing bodies of local schools about arrangements accommodating pupils following the closure of the Shepherd's Spring Schools.

¬ The Andover Education Centre be re-located to the Shepherd's Spring Junior School building, suitably adapted, with the current lease at Cricklade College being temporarily re-negotiated.

¬ A full core offer Children's Centre be established on the Shepherd's Spring Infant School site.

¬ Any remaining surplus land to be sold to help offset the costs of implementing the above proposals.

¬ The Cabinet agrees that the full capital receipt from the sale of part of the Shepherd's Spring site be used for the implementation of this strategy.

¬ Further research be undertaken in respect of the potential funding of the Education Centre from the Dedicated Schools Grant.

The Committee debated in considerable detail the report and recommendations to be put before the Cabinet on 24 July 2006. 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.

Discussion centred on the social needs of the local community and the various initiatives run by the schools to support children and their families. There was concern that the initiatives run by Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools should not be lost if the schools were closed in 2008. However the establishment of a Children's Centre which would offer a wide range of facilities and services for children and their families went some way in alleviating these concerns. It was suggested that the Director of Children Services brief Members on the future social needs of the children at Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools.

The Committee also expressed concern about the opening date of September 2009 for the new 2FE primary school at East Anton and in particular commented that the school should be available for families moving into the new homes. Furthermore there were comments made about the capacity of neighbouring schools to accommodate pupils following the closure of Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools. In particular there were comments made about the one year gap between closure of the Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools and the opening of the new school at East Anton.

There was also discussion about the impact of the closure of the Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior schools on staff morale. Some Members felt strongly that counselling and advice should be made available at the earliest opportunity. In particular there was reference to having in place appropriate support for the children, especially as some were quite vulnerable.

The was also some discussion about parental choice and the fact that the closure of the Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior schools could be perceived as limiting parental choice. It was explained that the Admissions Policy would address such issues.

At the close of the debate the Committee placed on record its appreciation to the governing bodies and teaching establishments at both Shepherds Spring Infant and Junior Schools during this period of uncertainty.

RESOLVED:

That the views of the Committee as set out above be forwarded to the Cabinet meeting on 24 July 2006.