Archived decisions

Decision Maker:

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)

Date of Decision:

16 October 2008

Decision Title:

Grangeside - conversion of the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) on the Pack Lane site in Basingstoke previously known as Basingstoke School Plus into a special school catering for pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD)

Decision Reference:

347

Report From:

John Coughlan, Director of Children's Services

Contact name:

Sue Dorney-Smith, Education Officer (SEN)

Tel:

01962 846418

Email:

[email protected]

1) Summary

The following decision(s) are sought:

1.1. consultation responses were noted and the publication of a competition notice under Section 7 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, inviting interested parties to bid to establish and run a new secondary special school for 63 pupils (both boys and girls) with a statement of SEN for BESD on the Pack Lane site in Basingstoke with effect from September 2010, was approved.

1.2. in the event that approval is ultimately given to open the new special school, agreement was given to the closure of Grangeside in August 2010.

2) Reasons for the decision

2.1. The establishment of a new school, which would be permanently led by a headteacher, have the certainty of a full staffing complement for a Hampshire BESD special school, provide a more broad and balanced curriculum including the national curriculum and have the rigorous challenge provided by a full governing body will provide the best basis for continuing improvement.

2.2. Guidance from the DCSF entitled "Planning and Developing Special Educational Provision" states that pupils displaced as a result of the closure of a BESD special school should not be placed long-term or permanently in a PRU if a special school place is what they need as PRUs are intended primarily for pupils who have been excluded.

2.3. The responses received during the consultation were overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals.

3) Other options considered and rejected:

As the responses received during the consultation were overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal and to continue with the current situation would be against DCSF advice, no other options were considered.

4) Conflicts of Interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker:

None

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted:

None

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

None

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent :

None

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

Approved by:

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)

Councillor David Kirk

Date:

16 October 2008