Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

1.1. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a national programme during which all secondary schools in England will be rebuilt, substantially remodelled or refurbished in the period up to about 2020.

1.2. Hampshire County Council was not included in earlier waves of this initiative by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) but, following the submission of a revised Expression of Interest for programme entry submitted in December 2008, the County Council has been asked to submit a Statement of Readiness to Partnerships for Schools, the DCSF's delivery arm for BSF. This Statement will be submitted by 8 May 2009. The first phase of BSF in Hampshire will be implemented in part of the Havant/Horndean area. It is anticipated that some £120m could eventually be available for investment in secondary schools within this area

1.3. This report seeks Cabinet agreement to the detailed implementation of the school organisation aspects of BSF in six mainstream and two special secondary schools within the Havant/Horndean area. It also seeks approval of the second phase which will include the remaining three Havant mainstream secondary schools and the three Gosport secondary schools.

1.4. Priority within the programme is given to areas with poor GCSE performance and high deprivation: the Havant/Horndean and Gosport areas score most highly on these criteria in Hampshire.

2) Issues Covered in Report

2.1. The report gives essential background to the BSF programme, referring to the two rounds of consultations carried out during September to November 2008 and February and March 2009. Whereas the earlier consultations had put forward a range of options for consideration, the later consultations focussed on a "preferred option", setting out specific proposals in relation to each school. These options are set out in more detail in paragraph 1.9 of the main report.

2.2. The outcomes of the February - March consultation programme are then recorded and analysed with detailed comments whenever appropriate.

2.3. Finally, the report sets out for Cabinet consideration specific proposals relating to the first phase of BSF in Hampshire and seeks confirmation of the priority for the second phase, namely three Havant and three Gosport mainstream secondary schools.

2.4. A map of the area under consideration and a text-only version of the consultation booklet circulated as part of the second round of consultations are given in appendices 1 and 2.

2.5. For ease of reference, the first time a school is mentioned in this report, the full name is used. A shorter version will usually feature in subsequent references.

3) Recommendations

It is recommended that:

3.1. Officers pursue with the Department for Children, Schools and Families 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.

3.2. Subject to the decision on 3.1, 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.

3.3. 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.

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual Information

1.1. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a national initiative intended to rebuild, remodel or refurbish all secondary schools in England, including secondary age special schools and education centres, over a 15 year period from 2005. This renewal programme must take place within the context of a locally developed agenda to transform secondary education to meet the demands of the present century. The required approach can, therefore, be summarised as Building Schools for the Future, not School Buildings for the Future.

1.2. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has set in place a detailed framework within which BSF operates. Delivery is managed through Partnerships for Schools (PfS), which has been set up by the DCSF to oversee the initiative nationally and to work with individual local authorities once they are included in the programme. To secure BSF funding local authorities (LAs) are required to:

· provide local leadership for BSF;

· develop and implement an education and community vision through a Strategy for Change;

· agree transformation strategies with schools and other partners;

· support individual schools in developing their own Strategies for Change, complementing that prepared by the LA ;

· undertake long-term planning of school places across their areas in which current numbers, locations and groupings of schools will not be taken for granted;

· procure and deliver design and building work.

1.3. Hampshire County Council could attract investment through BSF totalling up to £1bn, probably over a period of about ten years. The scale of this investment is unparalleled and the work required to ensure that it is successful is far-reaching, ranging across many disciplines and involving a large number of stakeholders.

1.4. BSF is a one-off opportunity for the County Council and schools to make a radical impact on ensuring that secondary education in Hampshire better meets the needs of all learners in a more cohesive way and to modernise provision for the next generation. Local authorities are expected to contribute financially to at least 10% of the overall programme costs through maximisation of investment opportunities, e.g. by reinvesting capital receipts.

1.5. Key components of qualifying for BSF investment are the need to demonstrate:

· a commitment to the Government's choice and diversity agenda;

· evidence that this will support the transformation of learning leading to enhancement of young people's life chances;

· a capacity to manage surplus places effectively, particularly where this involves the achievement of significant reductions in unfilled capacity across an area

1.6. In its booklet "An introduction to Building Schools for the Future" (2008), the DCSF states that "Ministers expect local authorities to use BSF to deliver a step-change in attainment levels by increasing school diversity and enhancing parental choice in their areas". The DCSF wishes to see an imaginative, forward-looking approach, which is designed to meet the future needs of learners and the wider community, as well as impacting on life chances, rather than maintaining the status quo based on the pattern of existing provision.

1.7. In July 2008, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) considered a report from the Director of Children's Services setting out proposals for the implementation of BSF in Hampshire, specifically in the Havant/Horndean area. Local consultations were agreed and these took place from 22 September to 10 November 2008.

1.8. The results of these consultations were considered by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 21 January 2009 with specific recommendations for a further round of consultations on a "preferred option" as required by DCSF regulations.

1.9. The "preferred option" approved for consultation in January contained the following detailed proposals:

Initial BSF projects

i) 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, ideally from the further and higher education sectors;

ii) The remodelling of Cowplain Community School to cater for 1,050 pupils aged 11-16;

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

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

v) The substantial rebuilding of Park Community School to cater for 900 pupils aged 11-16;

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

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

viii) The remodelling of Rachel Madocks Special School to provide more appropriate accommodation for its existing place number;

Follow-on BSF projects

ix) The remodelling of Crookhorn College of Technology to cater for 1,050 pupils aged 11-16;

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

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

1.10. The effects of the above proposals would have been to reduce the overall percentage surplus to 5.4% from 15.4%.

1.11. This "preferred option" responded in particular to the strongly expressed local view that Staunton Community Sports College should not be closed. However, given the school's very low and static levels of achievement in relation to GCSE performance, specifically its inclusion in the National Challenge programme for schools scoring under 30% A* - C GCSE grades, including English and mathematics, it was recognised that the Government was very unlikely to approve the continuation of Staunton Community Sports College in its present form.

1.12. The "preferred option" therefore proposes that the existing school should be closed and replaced by an 11-16 academy with an intended opening date of September 2010. This proposal was the main focus of the second round of consultations.

1.13. As far as other schools are concerned, the proposals in the January report for five of the nine Havant/Horndean secondary schools remained the same as in the July 2008 report. Revised proposals were made for Park Community School, Purbrook Park School, Staunton Community Sports College and Warblington School.

1.14. As a result of the second consultation round, the establishment of an academy to replace Staunton Community Sports College remains the key proposal. Further analysis of projected numbers on roll has resulted in changes to the capacities proposed in January at Crookhorn Technology College, Cowplain Community School and Park Community School, discussed in greater detail in section 7 of this report and illustrated in Table 1.

1.15. The overall surplus arising from the revised proposals, as set out in Table 1, is now 5%, as recommended by the latest guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) through Partnership for Schools (PfS). Any places provided above the 5% margin would need to be funded solely from local financial resources.

1.16. The projections for 2019 are now based on numbers on roll in January 2009, the latest available.

Table 1

School	NCA 2009	Proposed NCA 2019	NOR 2019	Surplus places 2019
Cowplain	1,098	1,100	1,049	4.6%
Crookhorn	973	1,000	924	7.6%
Horndean	1,500	1,100	1,050	4.5%
Purbrook Park	840	810	767	5.3%
Sub-total	4,411	4,010	3,790	5.5%
Park	900	950	906	4.6%
Staunton	903	700	662	5.4%
Warblington	977	750	716	4.5%
Sub-total	2,780	2,400	2,284	4.8%
Hayling	744	600	552	8.0%
Oaklands	1,453	1,300	1,270	2.3%
Totals	9,388	8,310	7,896	5.0%

2) Key Issues

An academy on the present Staunton site

2.1. The original proposals for the Havant/Horndean area included the option of closing Staunton and the re-direction of pupils to Park and Warblington. This was strongly resisted by the local community who stressed that the school was a vital part of the community and that the alternatives were not practical. The proposal to close Staunton and set up an academy is discussed in greater detail in section 5 of this report.

Two-phase approach for Havant/Horndean and Gosport

2.2. Although the original intention had been to treat the whole Havant/Horndean area as one project, the Government's decision during the first consultation period to restrict funding for initial BSF projects to £80m has meant that three Havant schools have been linked to Gosport secondary schools as the second phase of BSF in Hampshire. By linking Gosport schools with the remaining Havant schools, it has been possible to keep the original Havant/Horndean project on track at the same time as implementing BSF in the next priority area.

Consultation procedures and responses

2.3. As for the first round of consultations, a booklet (Appendix 2) summarising the main issues was distributed to all schools in the area, for onward transmission to governors, staff and parents, to all children's centres, and to a range of statutory and voluntary bodies. The BSF website was updated throughout the consultation period and 57 out of 304 responses were made on-line. 89% of those responding to the consultation document supported the proposal to establish an academy on the present Staunton site.

Demography and pupil numbers

2.4. The first report, presented to the Executive Lead Member in July 2008, contained a detailed analysis of projected numbers on roll and housing trends based on January 2008 school census returns. These figures were updated for the report on the Expression of Interest in late November and the report recommending a "preferred option" in January, both reports being based on October 2008 numbers on roll.

2.5. The Major Development Area (MDA) proposed for West of Waterlooville, most of which lies within the Winchester District Council area, envisages 2,000 dwellings in phase 1 and a further 1,000 dwellings in phase 2. The area will be served by existing secondary schools in the Havant area although the present difficult economic climate is likely to mean that housing starts are delayed. Crookhorn has been designated the catchment school for phase 1 of the MDA although the northern end of phase 1 is within easier reach of Cowplain which is therefore likely to attract pupils from that area. Both the Crookhorn and Cowplain number on roll projections for 2019 include an additional allowance to take account of MDA pupils.

2.6. Following discussions with Havant Borough Council and in response to a number of comments made during the consultation, particularly by East Hampshire District Council, further work was carried out to assess the implications for secondary school numbers of likely housing developments in the area, and particularly those expected to be built through the South East Plan proposals. A total of 4,749 additional dwellings is assumed for the Havant Borough Council area in the period 2006 to 2016. Although most of the housing planned through the South East Plan is expected to cater for a forecast increase in the number of households, there will nevertheless be some additional family housing which needs to be taken into account. This will, to a degree, offset the underlying decline in the number of school-age children in the area.

2.7. Bearing in mind the long-term investment in provision represented by BSF, a comparison has been made between the County Council's projections based on approved housing to 2014, in accordance with its forecasting model, and the assumptions about future housing to be built through the South East Plan proposals. The anticipated implications of the proposed housing figures for each school in the review area have been assessed and the expected additional pupil yield of 361 has been allocated to the appropriate secondary school. This calculation is based on a prudent assumption that 20% of pupils from all new housing (including the MDA) will already be living in the area and attending a local school and will therefore have been included in the base forecasts.

Response by the DCSF to the Expression of Interest

2.8. As part of the County Council's bid for future BSF funding, an Expression of Interest, setting out proposals for the development of BSF throughout the county, was submitted to the DCSF on 1 December 2008. The report considered on 26 November by the Executive Lead Member which approved the submission can be accessed at:

www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-docs/081126-excsed-R1119085113

2.9 Based on its assessment of Expressions of Interest nationally, the DCSF has invited some 40 local authorities, including the County Council, to submit a Statement of Readiness to Deliver, which will be used to assess an appropriate date for programme entry. It is not yet known how many authorities will be invited to join the programme once this process has been completed in June or July this year. Nine groups of officers, school staff and other representatives continue to work on aspects of BSF development.

3) Analysis of responses to consultation document

3.1. Over 23,000 consultation booklets were distributed in the Havant/Horndean area. 304 responses to the questionnaire were received: 57 on-line (19%) and 247 (81%) via the reply-paid form attached to the consultation document. This is a significantly lower level of response than that occasioned by the earlier consultations where 1,233 replies were received. However, this is perhaps not surprising given the high level of interest generated by the initial proposal to close Staunton with no replacement, together with the fact that the "preferred option" envisages the continuation of a school on the Staunton site.

3.2. The questionnaire asked two questions:

· Do you support the opening of an academy on the Staunton site?

· Do you have any comments on the proposed future capacity of any secondary school(s)?

3.3. 272 responses (89%) were in favour of opening of an academy.

3.4. The following text was submitted as part of a number of responses. Although it is clearly a standard comment circulated within the area it nevertheless well summarises the essential issues and the local response: "I support the opening of an academy on (the) Staunton Site and urge the Local Authority when establishing this new school to give due consideration to sponsorship from local FE colleges, schools and Higher Education establishments who, as we are, are passionate about improving the opportunities for all in this community. I would also ask that a new Academy maintains its place within the Leigh Park Community Improvement Partnership (CIP) and the Havant Federation of Schools."

3.5. To a major extent, additional comments mirrored many of those made in response to the first round of consultations. For example, there was strong support for the continuation of a school within the local community, for the academy to continue to work with other schools in the Havant Federation and the Community Improvement Partnership, and concern over schools that were too large.

3.6. The second consultation did not highlight the possibility of all-through provision. However, first round consultees had felt that a structure in which schools worked together more formally could be a powerful influence in ensuring coherent educational and social support for some of the county's most disadvantaged children. Opportunities will continue to be explored to work towards the evolution of the academy towards a more formal 0-19 partnership of local providers in which the CIP would play a key role.

Other consultation procedures

3.7. Meetings were held with the governors of Staunton Community Sports College and those of its linked primary schools, Trosnant Infant and Junior Schools, Front Lawn Infant and Junior Schools, Sharps Copse Primary and Warren Park Primary Schools. Meetings were also held for the parents of pupils at these schools. Notes of all meetings are given in Appendix 4.

3.8. Officers attended a meeting of the Community Forum (representing the parishes of Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle) and the Community improvement Partnership (CIP) based in Leigh Park.

3.9. Letters seeking views on the new proposals were sent to:

· local County Councillors;

· the constituent parishes of the Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle Community Forum;

· East Hampshire District and Havant Borough Councils;

· the Hampshire Primary Care Trust;

· Havant and South Downs Colleges;

· the local Learning and Skills Council;

· the chairman of the local 14-19 consortium;

· the Church of England and Roman Catholic dioceses of Portsmouth;

· West Sussex County and Portsmouth City Councils;

· the Teachers' Liaison Panel; Hampshire Unison, the GMB and Unite the Union;

· the MP for Havant;

· the chairman of Leigh Park Community Improvement Partnership;

· the secretary of the Havant Federation of Schools.

4) Responses from governing bodies and other agencies

4.1. Headteachers of schools within the Leigh Park CIP area see an academy as an opportunity to accelerate the progress already made by the CIP, in which they expect the academy to play a major part. They support sponsorship from a local further education college.

4.2. CIP headteachers say that these proposals would give further scope for all-through schooling from the earliest years, though stress that they see this as a continuing process rather than being expressed through co-located buildings. The headteachers' response is complemented by a detailed analysis of "the key areas of focus that would need to be addressed by an academy to ensure it meets local needs" whilst remaining an integral part of the CIP. Both documents are included in Appendix 3.

4.3. The governors of Front Lawn Junior School support continuing provision on the Staunton site, supported by the CIP and working towards an enhanced all-through philosophy. The governors stress the need to raise student aspirations to improve life chances and economic well-being. They argue that wider economic regeneration should be at the heart of all developments in the Leigh Park area, with the local authority playing a key role. The governors say that, if an FE college is to become the main sponsor, additional "relevant economic sponsors" should also be involved.

4.4. Two appendices are attached to the Front Lawn Junior response. The first, from the chair of the school's finance committee, sets out a series of suggested detailed steps and key issues to be considered as part of the setting up of an academy. The second, from the chair of governors, expresses some concern that the sponsorship model being proposed has, in his view, drifted away from the Government's original model. He emphasises the need to address the needs of business whilst recognising and responding to the wide range of pupils' abilities. All three documents from Front Lawn Junior School are given in Appendix 3.

4.5. The governors of Sharps Copse Primary School support the proposal to open an academy on the Staunton site with FE sponsorship. However, they note that parents have been unsettled by the consultation process. The governors express concern that, once open, the future of the new school might not be secure.

4.6. The governors of Trosnant Infant School support the proposal to open an academy and feel that the CIP already offers full scope for all-through working.

4.7. The governors of Cowplain Community School support the proposal to open an academy on the Staunton site. However, they query the authority's intention to reduce capacity on the western side of the A3(M). Despite the designation of Crookhorn as the main catchment school for the MDA, the governors suggest that in practice pupils are more likely to go either to Cowplain or Purbrook Park. If this is the case, they argue, then Crookhorn will attract pupils from Park Community School with serious consequences for both Staunton and Warblington.

4.8. The governors are right to suggest that some pupils from the MDA will attend Cowplain and Purbrook Park. This has been allowed for in the 2019 number on roll projections. It is unlikely that significant numbers of pupils from the MDA will wish to attend Horndean because of distance They are also right to be concerned at the possibility that excess capacity in the west will attract pupils from the east.

4.9. 432 new secondary age pupils have been calculated as being likely to be generated by the MDA by 2019 and are included in the number on roll projections. Even if both Cowplain and Purbrook Park Schools admitted further MDA pupils to their full proposed capacities, places for over 200 pupils would still be needed at Crookhorn. The revised proposals set a projected 5.5% level of surplus on the western side of the area which represents a fair balance between over-provision and the fettering of the expression of parental preference.

4.10. The governors of Park Community School argue in favour of a school for 1,000 pupils rather than 900 as proposed by the local authority in the second consultation document. They say that, on the basis of the figures in the document, based on October 2008 numbers on roll, the local authority has not left enough space at Park to enable it to respond to local need and has made too great an allowance at Crookhorn to take account of the forthcoming West of Waterlooville Major Development Area (MDA). They expect more pupils to attend Cowplain but it should be noted that the October-based projections already made some allowance for this.

4.11. The Park governors reject the local authority's contention that, if more places were available at Park, this would have a potentially detrimental effect on future Staunton numbers. The governors say that only if the school has a capacity of 1,000 places will it be able properly to serve the local community. The governors' views are given in Appendix 3. Re-assessment of future numbers at Park has led to an increase in the proposed capacity from 900 to 950 places.

4.12. The chairman of the Staunton governors has written:

"The governors at Staunton Community Sports College support its transition from College to Academy status.

The governors strongly advocate the need for a local secondary school to provide care for local children and to provide much needed cohesion for an area of social deprivation. To this end they are working closely with the Local Authority to provide a seamless transition."

4.13. The FLASH (Family Liaison Autism Support) group summarises its position at the end of one of four documents submitted in response to the consultation. They say that the number of children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasing. Their view is that, in south-east Hampshire, the allocated places for children with ASD are insufficient for those with mild or moderate impairment who, according to FLASH, are unable to survive unsupported in a mainstream secondary school. Much time and cost, they say, is incurred transporting children outside their local area.

4.14. FLASH proposes dedicated specialist provision for these children attached to a mainstream secondary school in the Havant or Waterlooville area, as in some other parts of the county. The feasibility of establishing special provision at a mainstream school in the area as part of BSF is being actively discussed with local secondary schools.

4.15. County Councillor Ann Buckley, one of the local Members, has commended the consultation process. She welcomes the attention given to attainment, not only in secondary schools, and the focus on school capacity. Cllr. Buckley would have preferred an all-through solution but accepts that the academy proposal seems to be the best option at the present time to ensure that a secondary school remains on the Staunton site.

4.16. Havant Borough Council strongly supports the setting up of an academy in principle but seeks assurances about:

· the academy's ability to cater for the more academic pupil;

· the practicalities of sponsorship by more than one organisation;

· the academy's links with the Havant Federation;

· priority for local pupils to attend the new school;

· continuity and enhancement of the community benefits offered by the school.

4.17. East Hampshire District Council continues to believe that the planned reduction at Horndean to 1,100 rather than 1,250 places is not justified by the forecast numbers on roll and in particular the yield of pupils from planned new housing. However, the number on roll projections based on the January 2009 school census, which have been enhanced to take account of the latest Horndean participation rate, still indicate that a capacity of 1,100 is sufficient.

4.18. The Council further suggests that insufficient notice has been taken of projected development in the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) area. The figures given in the January 2009 report to the Executive Member and included in the consultation document (Appendix 2), however, take full account of projected housing demand beyond the timescale of the County Council's usual forecasting range.

5) Replacement of Staunton Community Sports College by an academy

5.1. The first round of consultations revealed strong support for the retention of Staunton as a key community provision and focus. However, it was clear that any proposal simply to retain Staunton as at present, but with capacity reduced to 700 places without structural change, was highly unlikely to be acceptable to the DCSF, mainly because of the school's National Challenge status, but also because a significant number of local parents do not currently choose the school for their children's secondary education.

5.2. The establishment of an academy must offer clear potential from the outset for significant raising of standards and transforming learning, and the DCSF and the Office of the Schools Commissioner (OSC) look for clear evidence of this in any academy proposal submitted to them. The DCSF states that an academy should promote diversity within a collaborative framework.

5.3. The DCSF website includes the following information about academies, some of which was included in the consultation documents:

a) Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds, including high performing schools and colleges, universities, individuals, businesses, the voluntary sector, and the faith communities.

b) Academies are not maintained by the local authority, but they collaborate closely with it, and with other schools in the area. Academies are funded at a level comparable to other local schools in their area.

c) An academy is in effect a new school even though it will usually replaces one or more under-achieving schools. The governing body and the headteacher, appointed by the sponsors, have responsibility for managing the academy and appointing staff. In order to determine the ethos and leadership of the academy, and ensure clear responsibility and accountability, the private sector or charitable sponsor always appoints the majority of the governors.

d) At least one parent governor and one local authority governor must be appointed. Most academies also have a teacher governor (either elected or appointed), a staff governor (either elected or appointed) and many include community representatives.

e) All academies are bound by the same School Admissions Code, SEN Code of Practice and exclusions guidance as are other state-funded schools.

f) All new academies are required to follow the National Curriculum programmes of study in English, mathematics, science and ICT. All academies, like the large majority of secondary schools, have specialist school status, and have a specialism in one or more subjects. Further specialisms are possible.

g) Academy governors employ all members of staff, determine their pay structure and set their conditions of service. They also determine the length of the school day and pattern of holidays. It is anticipated that the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations will apply to existing staff.

h) Further information about academies can be accessed through the DCSF website:

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies/

5.4. The July 2008 report and linked consultation document discussed academies in the context of an institution replacing both Staunton and Warblington. It became clear during consultations, however, that a split-site academy or an academy on either the Staunton or Warblington site to replace both of the existing schools, would be strongly resisted locally.

5.5. The second round of consultations therefore proposed the setting up of an 11-16 academy on the Staunton site with a strong skills-based emphasis and capitalising on the collaborative arrangements already in place in the Leigh Park area, in particular through the CIP, the 14-19 Consortium and local post-16 colleges, the Federation of Havant Schools and the County Council.

5.6. It was further suggested that a community-based sponsor, or sponsors, could build upon the existing established collaborative links and develop further initiatives to address the skills gap in the area, both at school level and among adults. An approach to securing community-based sponsorship of an academy, which has been successful elsewhere in the country, would be to seek joint sponsorship from high quality and high achieving local further and higher education providers.

5.7. There are currently 16 academies in England established or in the process of being established with this form of sponsorship. While building on existing collaboration, this approach would offer scope for significant improvement in skills-based facilities for under-16 pupils in the area and enhancement of provision for adults. There is also potential for standards across the board at Staunton to be significantly improved.

5.8. The OSC has approached Havant College and South Downs College as potential lead sponsors which meet the criteria of establishing and developing a skills-based academy from within the local community. A local higher education provider is also being approached to act as a subsidiary sponsor, as well a local high- performing Hampshire school to act as an education partner. It has been made clear to the potential sponsors that these contacts do not imply any decision in advance of that by the Cabinet following consideration of this report. The OSC is reporting back on its initial conclusions in early May.

5.9. The County Council is also able to become a subsidiary sponsor. This would enable continued involvement in the academy and an additional seat on the governing body. While sponsorship might be considered potentially to fetter the County Council's role as a commissioner of schools, the potential benefits to be derived from the ability to help shape the academy, and in particular to ensure a continued focus on the wider children's services and community agendas in the area, appear to outweigh this consideration. It is, therefore, recommended that the County Council should propose itself as a subsidiary sponsor of the Staunton academy.

5.10. If, after consideration of consultation responses, the Cabinet decides that an academy is the best option for the Staunton area, the DCSF would require an Expression of Interest to be submitted jointly by the County Council and sponsor(s) for Ministerial consideration. In order to minimise uncertainty about future provision, it is proposed to aim to open the academy from September 2010.

5.11. If the Secretary of State agreed support for an academy, there would be further consultation on the proposals.

6) Role of academy sponsor(s) and governing body

6.1. As part of the change on the Staunton site from foundation to academy, the governing body will need to transfer the school site and buildings back to the local authority, which would then lease them to the Academy Trust at a peppercorn rent.

6.2. An agreement is in force between the Staunton governing body, the County Council and Sport England in relation to National Lottery funding for sports facilities at the school. Officers have already considered this issue with Sport England, and with the governing body at their 26 March meeting. Potential sponsors are also aware of the existing agreement and the County Council's stated intention to maintain the facilities for school and community use. Work is in progress to draft an agreement which would safeguard the current position and thus avoid the County Council's having to pay a penalty to Sport England if the terms of the existing agreement were broken.

7) Proposals for other Havant/Horndean schools

7.1. The future of Staunton has been the main focus of discussions about secondary school organisation in this area since the possibility of closure was first raised in July 2008 report. However, important proposals have been made in relation to other schools in the area, which are explained below.

7.2. The July report emphasised the disparity in the number of surplus places between the four mainstream schools to the west of the A3(M) and the three schools to the east. Oaklands and Hayling were treated separately: the former because of its aided school status and the latter because of its relatively isolated geographical position.

7.3. Since the publication of original proposals in the Havant/Horndean area in July 2008, BSF funding has come under increasing pressure, highlighting the need to maintain the minimum feasible level of surplus places. In practice this means overall surplus place levels of no more than 5%. The January 2009 numbers on roll now form the basis of future projections, translating into adjusted participation rates which inform the forecasting methodology.

7.4. The effect of incorporating annually revised pre-school numbers has reduced the base forecasts in the Crookhorn and Purbrook Park areas in particular. This has required a slight reduction in the originally proposed post-BSF capacity at Crookhorn from 1,050 to 1,000 places, although representing a slight increase on its present 973 capacity. A small rise in numbers is now forecast for Cowplain, resulting in an increase in the proposed capacity from 1,050 in the consultation document to 1,100.

7.5. The future capacity for Park has now been proposed at 950 places to take account of revised number on roll projections. The school will continue to be able to take its catchment pupils; the increase also reflects patterns of parental preference.

7.6. The reduction of capacity at Warblington School will still allow space for any pupils who might previously have attended schools in West Sussex to go to a Hampshire school.

7.7. Table 1 sets out the proposals for the whole area and is reproduced here.

Table 1

School	NCA 2009	Proposed NCA 2019	NOR 2019	Surplus places 2019
Cowplain	1,098	1,100	1,049	4.6%
Crookhorn	973	1,000	924	7.6%
Horndean	1,500	1,100	1,050	4.5%
Purbrook Park	840	810	767	5.3%
Sub-total	4,411	4,010	3,790	5.5%
Park	900	950	906	4.6%
Staunton	903	700	662	5.4%
Warblington	977	750	716	4.5%
Sub-total	2,780	2,400	2,284	4.8%
Hayling	744	600	552	8.0%
Oaklands	1,453	1,300	1,270	2.3%
Totals	9,388	8,310	7,896	5.0%

8) Financial implications of setting up an academy

8.1. The DCSF states that local authorities should not incur any additional liabilities and risk due to their involvement with academies and indemnifies against this. From research with other authorities the main issue which has arisen as an issue is the cost of legal fees for the academy agreements and contracts, which an authority may need to fund. Legal contracts and agreements need to be tightly worded to ensure that an authority is not left open to risk and additional liabilities. It would be prudent to consider base-lining present support to Staunton to ensure that, if additional liabilities are incurred, these can be charged to the DCSF under the indemnity agreement.

8.2. Once established, the academy's revenue funding (Dedicated Schools Grant - DSG) apportionment comes direct from central Government. Currently the local authority must calculate the amount of DSG which would be allocated to the academy as if it was still a maintained school. The DCSF will then recoup the amount of the DSG calculated for the academy by the authority prior to transferring the DSG funding to the authority. The DCSF will then directly transfer to the academy an amount of funding equal to the amount it would have received if it was still a school maintained by the local authority.

8.3. Public sector academy sponsors are not required to contribute to an endowment fund for the academy, although there is an assumption that a fund will be established and that sponsors will use their good offices over an extended period to seek contributions to it.

8.4. The capital costs associated with the academy would be met through the BSF programme, although the academy would be established in the current Staunton buildings, with investment following once the County Council gains entry to the BSF programme.

8.5. All BSF projects will be funded through a national capital funding formula, with amounts based on the proportion of new build, remodelling and lighter touch refurbishment work which each school receives. This formula will inevitably not cover all the costs required to carry out the necessary level of building improvements and contributions from the County Council are very likely to be required throughout the BSF investment period of some ten years. This is the case for all authorities in the BSF programme, as there is an expectation that national funding will be topped up locally, by authorities and by individual schools.

8.6. At this stage it is not possible to quantify the capital funding shortfalls for each BSF group of schools. It is, however, likely to be several million pounds in each case and officers are giving consideration to strategies to bridge the gap. These are likely to include proposals to make contributions to BSF investment from the Children's Services and Policy and Resources capital programmes and schools' devolved capital. Further contributions are also likely through savings on procurement and, in the future, through the sale of land. It is likely that this combination of measures will significantly reduce the funding gaps. Work will continue to identify further opportunities and detailed proposals will be submitted once proposals for the initial phases of BSF investment have been developed in more detail.

9) Conclusions

9.1. The proposal to close Staunton Community Sports College and establish an 11-16 academy on the same site has received significant support through consultation from the local community. The retention of secondary education on this site is of major local importance and the opportunities offered by community-based sponsorship should make a significant contribution to the raising of attainment standards and skills levels across the community. This strategy is therefore recommended for approval.

9.2. Capacity changes at other secondary schools in the area support the long-term need to reduce surplus school places in the area to a maximum of 5%, which is required both to achieve a cost effective balance between supply and demand and to secure BSF investment.

10) Recommendations

Please see paragraph 3 of the Executive Summary for recommendations.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

The proposal to maintain a school on the current Staunton site will ensure that the local community will continue to benefit from all facilities currently available and from the enhanced provision resulting from BSF investment. Crucially, pupils will be able to walk to their local school, thus allaying fears expressed during the consultations that absence would increase if pupils had to attend an alternative school.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

The proposals do not impact directly on crime and disorder issues.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

As part of the design development process a sustainable energy strategy will be developed for each school in Hampshire's BSF programme, with the aim of meeting a 60% carbon reduction target for all new buildings, based on the energy standards set out in the 2002 Building Regulations. Building Schools for the Future will be used to showcase best practice to encourage a change in behaviour and help to provide sustainable communities. The programme will move towards the national target as laid out under the Children's Plan for all new school buildings to be carbon neutral by 2016. Where energy requirements exceed any on-site provision, energy is proposed to be supplied from green sources.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

The proposals will seek to reduce consumption through the use of low carbon design principles in order to ensure that the proposed buildings are designed to enable them to adapt to climate change. These principles include orientation, fabric and services, which have a significant part to play in improving the buildings environmental performance. Designs will seek to utilise passive heating and cooling with high levels of insulation and air-tightness, so that the building requires as little active heating and cooling as possible. The design will also take account of day-lighting and acoustic issues to provide an excellent environment for learning. In order to ensure that only the most appropriate renewable technologies are selected, the long-term benefits of incorporating sustainability features will be assessed through rigorous investigation on a site-by-site basis.