Archived decisions
Appendix E4
Special school provision in the East New Forest
Salterns School - governors' consultation meeting
14 February 2007
Present from the Local Authority
Chris Holt - Education Officer (School Organisation and Review)
Eric Smith - Education Officer (SEN)
Sue Stares - County SEN Inspector
Present from Salterns School:
7 Governors
Mrs N Dando - Headteacher
Start of meeting: 4.00 pm
Close of meeting: 5.15 pm
The following questions were asked and comments made:
Pupils
1. The pupils remaining on the Salterns site could be seen as "second class citizens", particularly since these pupils will be the most challenging and disabled.
2. There does not appear to be a clear strategy for meeting the needs of those secondary pupils with the most severe and challenging needs over the next six years.
3. There are parental concerns about the transition process.
4. Primary provision for the full range of complex needs but maintaining separate SLD/PMLD provision at secondary would avoid duplicating expensive specialist facilities such as hydrotherapy pools.
5. Important to ensure that all travel issues are addressed, particularly the lack of opportunity for pupils to experience after-school activities because of transport requirements.
Procedures
6. Do we know whether there are likely to be any other proposers who might wish to take part in a competition for providing a new school?
7. How common is it to have non-education based sponsors?
8. If potential sponsors come from the non-educational world, would the local authority nevertheless still oversee the implementation of the proposals?
9. Once the proposals are agreed, a dedicated project group should be set up to drive them forward.
10. We need a "change manager" to handle the process alongside the newly appointed headteacher.
11. If there were a change of government, would all the plans change?
Buildings
12. Will there be space for other agencies in the new buildings?
13. Will the new provision be the best, or just a compromise? Facilities must be significantly better and involve Health and other agencies in a "one stop shop". Would the Forest Edge site be big enough for this?
14. Is the local authority putting money aside to support the secondary phase if money allocated through BSF does not come through?
Staff
15. How will links with Oak Lodge be enhanced, given that the present headteacher might not be in post in two to three years' time?
16. There may be problems of staff retention and future recruitment. Staff are already planning for other jobs. The Pay and Benefits agenda has compounded staffing problems
17. The appointment of a new headteacher as soon as possible is crucial.
18. Morale is very low among those support staff who are also likely to be receiving a pay cut as a result of the pay and benefits project. The insecurity about their jobs after this reorganisation is really worrying some staff.
Governance and management
19. How will the temporary governing body be appointed?
20. A working party with a clear philosophy should be set up involving all the schools concerned as soon as possible. Should we not be looking at federating the three governing bodies in order to set the vision and ethos for the future?
Other issues
21. The time lapse between the proposed start of the primary and secondary phases might lead to a lack of opportunity to share practice between the two secondary sites.
22. Avoid referring to the "Forest Edge site". Can a new name be used as soon as possible?
Governors were urged to respond as one to the consultations using the response sheet at the back of the consultation booklet and/or the Hantsweb link or a separate letter.