Archived decisions

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Item 6

Date of Decision:

27 April 2009

Decision Title:

Building Schools for the Future (BSF): implementation in the Havant/Horndean area

Decision Reference:

625

Report From:

The Director of Children's Services

Contact name:

Bob Eardley / Alex Munro

Tel:

01962 846275 / 6462

Email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

1) The following decision was made:

That:

1.1. Officers pursue with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) the establishment of an academy for up to 700 pupils aged 11-16 on the site of the current Staunton Community Sports College with community-based sponsorship from:

a) a local post-16 college as the lead sponsor;

b) the County Council and a local higher education establishment as subsidiary sponsors; and

c) the additional support of a high-performing school as education partner;

with the intention of opening the academy from September 2010.

1.2. Approval be given to publish notices to discontinue Staunton Community Sports College, Havant from 31 August 2010, conditional upon approval being given by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to the establishment of an academy on the Staunton Community Sports College site.

1.3. The following proposals for development through Building Schools for the Future and resulting changes to school capacities be approved, with an implementation date for capacity changes to be agreed by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) once the timescale for BSF investment in the area is confirmed:

a) The remodelling of Cowplain Community School to cater for 1,100 pupils aged 11-16;

b) The remodelling of Crookhorn College of Technology to cater for 1,000 pupils aged 11-16;

c) The remodelling of Glenwood Special School to provide more appropriate accommodation for its existing place number.

d) The remodelling of Hayling College to cater for 600 pupils aged 11-16;

e) The remodelling of Horndean Technology College to cater for 1,100 pupils aged 11-16;

f) The remodelling of Oaklands Catholic Voluntary Aided Secondary School to cater for 1,300 pupils aged 11-18;

g) The substantial rebuilding of Park Community School to cater for 950 pupils aged 11-16;

h) The remodelling of Purbrook Park School to cater for 810 pupils aged 11-16;

i) The remodelling of Rachel Madocks Special School to provide more appropriate accommodation for its existing place number, and to meet the increasingly complex range of children's needs with the resulting requirement for additional space for specialist equipment and enhanced staffing ratios.

j) The substantial remodelling of Warblington School to cater for 750 pupils aged 11-16.

2) Reasons for the decision

2.1. The decision will allow the County Council to confirm the detail of its Statement of Readiness to Deliver which must be submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families by 8 May 2009.

2.2. This in turn will allow the DCSF to consider the County Council's bid for inclusion in the next wave of BSF funding which will trigger the implementation of this substantial investment programme in Hampshire secondary schools.

3) Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. Closure of Staunton Community Sports College and the dispersal of its pupils to other schools was considered during the first round of consultations. There was strong local opposition to the proposal and it was decided that this option would not achieve the necessary raising of attainment standards.

3.2. The closure of Staunton Community Sports College and its replacement by a National Challenge Trust school was rejected on the grounds that it was less likely than an academy to be able to tackle under-achievement within the required National Challenge timescale.

3.3. A no-change option was considered to be unacceptable to the DCSF on the basis that it would do nothing to raise standards and that Staunton Community Sports College would continue to be at risk because of falling numbers on roll.

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:

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Date:

27 April 2009

Leader of the County Council

Councillor T K Thornber