Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. On 12 March 2009 the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services authorised local consultations following a request from the Barncroft Infant and the Barncroft Junior Schools' governing bodies to consider amalgamating their schools to form an all-through primary school. This report provides details of the outcome of those consultations and recommends that public notices be published, setting out the County Council's intention to establish a 420 place (14 class) community primary school on the Barncroft Schools' site. It is also intended to continue and expand the early years provision, establish a Reading Recovery training room to serve teachers from across the county (see paragraph 3.5) and provide an e-learning Centre facility (see paragraph 3.4) to serve the wider local community.

2. Strategic implications of surplus places

2.1. The County Council has a statutory duty to plan the provision of school places and to secure an appropriate balance locally between supply and demand. The need for school places changes in response to population movements and birth-rate variations. In many areas of the county the child population has been declining; in others, new housing developments are creating the need for additional school accommodation. Population changes mean that schools may go through periods when there is pressure on places and others when there is a surplus.

2.2. The number of schools with 25% or more surplus places is considered in the County Council's Comprehensive Performance Assessment. In recent years the number of Hampshire schools in this category has risen, as a result of demographic pressures, but has remained in line with the national average. In January 2009, there were 60 primary schools with more than 25% surplus places.

2.3. Although the underlying trend of falling rolls has led to an increase in the number of schools with surplus capacity this is predicted to show an upturn over the next five years. Nevertheless the issue of schools with surplus places is of concern in many parts of the County, and the number of primary schools with more than 25% surplus places is forecast to rise if further measures are not taken. Barncroft Junior School currently has a surplus significantly in excess of 25% as shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

3. Contextual information

3.1. The Barncroft Infant and Junior schools share one site and mainly serve a discrete community on the Leigh Park estate in Havant. The governors of both schools are determined that their schools achieve the highest possible standards for the pupils. Governors were concerned that, by the time the children left for secondary schools in 2008, only 36% had achieved the national expectation, Level 4 or better, in both English and mathematics. The Government has said that it requires all schools to have at least 55% of their children achieving the national expectations in English and mathematics in their Standard Assessment Tests.

3.2. The falling rolls at the Barncroft schools have been a concern to both governing bodies, which contributed to their request to the local authority to establish an amalgamated 420 place primary school on the site.

3.3. In October 2008 there were 429 primary schools in Hampshire, which were ranked from 1 (most deprived) to 429 (least deprived) on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Barncroft Infant School was ranked seventh on this scale and Barncroft Junior School ninth.

3.4. As an integral element of the Children's Services ICT Strategy it is proposed that an amalgamated primary school would become a regional hub for ICT innovation in teaching and learning. State of the art ICT resources will be accessible to schools and their wider communities in the Leigh Park. The proposed e-learning centre will play a supporting role as part of a programme of exemplar materials which can be accessed by teachers across the County.

3.5. The introduction of the national "Every Child a Reader" programme in 2010 requires Hampshire to have a purpose built training facility where teachers can learn how to deliver the Reading recovery method used in the programme. A specialist teacher works with individual pupils, observed by the trainee teachers through a two-way mirror. It is intended that a Reading Recovery training room will be incorporated into a newly formed primary school on the Barncroft site.

3.6. It is intended that the capital project is funded initially from the Primary Capital Programme (PCP)..

3.7. As the governing bodies of the Barncroft schools support the proposal to amalgamate their schools to form a primary school, in accordance with the County Council Cabinet's decision of 21 May 2007, the decision to publish statutory notices falls to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services.

4. Consultation

4.1. A full list of consultees, together with a schedule of meetings and drop-in sessions which have taken place regarding the proposal to establish a primary school, are attached at appendices 2 and 3. Notes of meetings held with Barncroft schools' governors, staff, parents and the wider community are appended at 1a,1b and 1c..

4.2. The consultation document (see Appendix 4) was widely distributed, including all parents of children attending the Barncroft Schools and the on-site early years provision, and was published on the County Council's web-site. The attached questionnaire invited recipients to indicate whether or not they agreed with the proposal to amalgamate Barncroft Infant and Barncroft Junior Schools to create a 420 place primary school on the present Barncroft Schools' site, and to make any comments. A breakdown of the 72 responses received is set out in Table 2 below:

Table 2

	Number	Percentage
Agree with the proposal	64	89%
Disagree with the proposal	7	10%
No indication / unsure	1	1%

5. Responses and comments from consultees

5.1. Having engaged with their schools' community, the governing bodies of both Barncroft Infant and Barncroft Junior Schools remain fully committed to the proposal to amalgamate their schools to form a primary school and are keen to see it expedited.

Pupils' views

5.2. The School Council at Barncroft Infant School was consulted. Children were asked what they liked about school, then asked what they would wish to see if the two schools were joined together. They were then asked what might worry them. Several said they would like to be able to see their friends, siblings and cousins and play with them. At the moment Year 1 and Year 2 children at Barncroft Infant School are in the same class. The children like the idea of still having their classmates in the same school.

5.3. The school council at Barncroft Junior School was consulted. Each class had discussed their feelings and ideas in response to five key questions generated by the school.

5.4. The majority of children were in favour of the schools amalgamating. Three classes reported qualitatively on the responses, with one of them commenting that their class thought that, overall, the amalgamation was a good idea. The remaining five classes counted the views of all children, 73% were in favour of the amalgamation.

5.5. Positive comments mainly reflected on the opportunity to see siblings and cousins and to play with friends from the infant school. Junior aged children also looked forward to the opportunity to care for the younger children and set them a good example. The children also showed excitement about a potential new building, to have more equipment to play with, and the extra or improved facilities, like better toilets or a bigger swimming pool.

5.6. Negative comments were few but there were comments that younger children may not know how to behave and that the older children would be obliged to look after them. There were also some concerns that the older children might knock into the little ones, especially with a football, or that the younger children might be scared. One class was concerned that the building works might have a negative impact on wildlife, another showed some concern over what would happen whilst the building was in progress.

5.7. Children also had a number of ideas and suggestions about the new building and what facilities the community might like to see and use there.

Staffing

5.8. Staff asked how appointments to a new primary school would be made. They pointed out that if a primary school was initially expected to operate in separate buildings (pending the completion of building works) there would be implications for staffing structures.

5.9. Staff and governors queried the positions of existing staff if they did not secure a job in an amalgamated primary school, particularly with regard to potential redundancies.

Buildings

5.10. Clarification was sought as to which building would be used for the new primary school and what facilities would be available in the new school.

5.11. The swimming pool was seen by the community and the parents as a very positive feature which they were anxious to ensure would be kept. Some concern was expressed that the total area of the school would be reduced and that it was important to ensure enough and appropriate play space was available to cater for the broader age range of a primary school.

5.12. Staff, governors and parents also sought reassurance that the building project would be managed in such a way as to ensure the quality of education for the pupils, to minimise disruption and ensure the safety of all pupils.

5.13. Governors asked whether the timescale for the new building would dovetail with that of the establishment of a new primary school.

5.14. There was some concern over what may happen to any excess land and how local residents might respond to the possibility of residential use of the land.

Parking / traffic / access

5.15. Concern was expressed regarding volume and speed of traffic on both Barncroft Way and Park Lane. The need for adequate parking for school staff and parents' drop-off and pick-up areas was expressed. It was pointed out that many parents and children came to school from the Barncroft Way direction and that, if the infant building was not used for the new school, then pedestrian access for this route should be retained.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

5.16. It was pointed out that both schools had a high incidence of children with special educational needs and the need to ensure that their needs continued to be met was emphasised.

Diocesan view

5.17. The proposed amalgamation will not have a direct impact on the Church of England and Roman Catholic Dioceses and no comments have been received.

Havant Borough Council

5.18. The Borough Council has no objection to the principle of amalgamating Barncroft Infant School and Barncroft Junior Schools to create an all-through 420 place primary school, and supports the consequent retention of primary school provision within the community.

Views of the local County Councillors

5.19. Councillor Ann Buckley stated that:

"I feel that there is support for the proposals from parents and the wider community. I very much welcome measures that will improve standards but stress that there is a high percentage of children with SEN. Many children need considerable support and I would like to praise both headteachers for what they have achieved and for the time they have spared to speak to me.

Investment in the school building is also welcomed. We have had two very pleasing buildings at Woodlands and Prospect and I hope to see building of that sort of quality. I should also like to see a good input from local residents with regard to the new building and the future development of the school site.

As with most schools, parking is an issue; both schools are situated on busy bus routes. Barncroft Junior School does not yet have a green travel plan and I ask if this could be left until it is clearer which building will be remodelled. I strongly support community use of the school buildings and hope that this will be monitored."

5.20. Councillor Anne Edwards stated that:

She welcomes the action taken by the governing bodies regarding the amalgamation proposal, believes that the prospective primary school along with the planned improvements will be an asset for the community, and noted that the community seemed in favour of the proposed amalgamation.

6. Responses to issues raised during consultation

Staffing

6.1. If a primary school is formed from existing infant and junior schools, a temporary governing body for the new school would be constituted prior to its opening. The temporary governing body would appoint the headteacher, who would then work with the temporary governing body to appoint staff. Any displaced staff from the closing infant and junior schools would, with the agreement of the temporary governing body, be given first opportunity to apply for positions in the new primary school. Officers of the County Council would work closely with the temporary governing body to ensure that, as far as possible, staff's professional needs and aspirations are met.

Buildings

6.2. The consultation exercise with the governing bodies focused on the overall benefits of this strategy for primary school provision on the Barncroft Schools' site. The accommodation needs of a two-form entry primary school will be considered against the current primary school building brief.

6.3. When undertaking building works, the County Council uses its experience and expertise to ensure high standards of project and process. Disruption during construction and demolition is kept to a minimum and the school are fully involved in the developments. As with any building project undertaken by the County Council, it will be a requirement on the contractor to produce and adhere to a strict health and safety plan, with work causing as little disruption to the day to day workings of the school as possible.

6.4. The swimming pool is being retained and improved under the County Council's strategy for pools. The junior school's pupils' ideas on the new building and the community facilities they would like to see incorporated will be forwarded to the architects for their consideration as part of their consultation exercise on the stakeholders' requirements for the proposed new building.

6.5. It is intended that land surplus to the requirements for a 420 place primary school will eventually be sold and the receipt used to payback the PCP budget for investment in other Hampshire primary schools. Discussions will need to take place with Havant Borough Council as the planning authority, and local residents will have the opportunity to make comments on any proposals when, and if, the planning application is submitted.

Early Years

6.6. The currently operating pre-school, Barn Owls, occupies space in the infant school building and caters for 20 places. There is an identified need for additional pre-school provision in the area and it is intended that the building work necessary to create an all-through primary school will also create expanded early years accommodation catering for 26 places.

Parking / traffic / access

6.7. A site plan for the proposed primary school will be formulated and consideration of the concerns regarding parking, traffic and access will be addressed during its production. Parking for school staff will be in line with the current primary school building brief.

Special Education Needs

6.8. There is no intention to lose the expertise and experience which exists amongst staff of both schools in meeting the special needs of children. The primary school's staffing structure and its make-up will be designed to meet this need aided by the continuity and progression which an all-through primary school will afford to children's learning.

7. Capital Strategy

7.1. It is intended that the proposed two form entry primary school, early years facilities and e-learning centre be funded primarily from the Primary Capital Programme (PCP). The initial feasibility work and consultation undertaken to date has concluded that the junior site and buildings are the preferred location for the amalgamated school for which £5.5m (including fees) has been identified in the Children's Services capital programme 2009/10 - 2011/12 as reported to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services on 21 January 2009. It is also proposed that the capital receipt from the sale of a surplus part of the Barncroft School site be used to payback the PCP budget and allow for the continuing rollout of investment through this programme to enhance and improve primary school facilities.

7.2. The feasibility work to date has identified that there are a number of landlord/maintenance liabilities in the junior school buildings not exceptional in comparison with other schools of this age and type. These will need to be considered as the detailed scheme progresses with a view to committing Policy and Resources capital maintenance funding. The scope and commitment will be subject to development of the design and priorities across the Education estate.

7.3. Estimates of the capital receipt are subject to completion of feasibility studies, the granting of appropriate planning consent by Havant Borough Council and the approval of the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for the disposal of any playing fields. In addition, contributions from the devolved capital allocations from both Barncroft Schools will be expected.

8. Revenue Implications

8.1. The proposed primary school will be funded on the basis of the Local Management (LM) formula for a two-form entry primary school. By amalgamating the two schools, there will be a net on-going saving of £75,000 per annum, which will be retained in the schools' block (for use by all schools). In keeping with the LM scheme, the school will receive additional funding to enable the appointment of its headteacher in advance of the school's opening. This will be available at the start of the 2010/11 financial year. Revenue balances from the closing schools will transfer to the new school.

8.2. Revenue costs associated with the proposed e-learning centre (paragraph 3.4 refers) will be covered through existing ICT support arrangements.

9. Conclusion

9.1. The proposal to amalgamate the infant and junior schools was initiated by the governing bodies. Governors are determined that the highest possible standards are attained by children prior to transferring to secondary education.

9.2. The governors recognise that the low school rolls are impacting on staffing levels, presenting challenges in maintaining high quality curriculum delivery. They believe that the creation of an all-through primary school will bring many additional benefits to children. This view has been supported by the comments made during the consultation process. It is a view also shared by local authority officers. The proposed primary school under single leadership would generate greater opportunities to align the curriculum, develop tracking processes, teaching methods and continuity of experience across the early years foundation stage and Key Stages 1 and 2. It is expected that this should lead to an acceleration of pupil progress throughout each Key Stage, resulting in higher pupil attainment at the end of Year 6. This will be supported through improved buildings to facilitate learning and teaching and it is anticipated that a single school will prove to be a positive aid to the recruitment and retention of high quality staff. In addition, there will be a single school for governors, parents and the wider community to focus on and to support.

9.3. The combined forecast number on roll of 336 at the Barncroft Schools (Table 1 refers) is significantly below the current 450 place capacity and would equate to a 12 class school. These numbers are predicated on a continued pattern of enrolment which reflects an 80% participation rate, indicating that one in five children living within the schools' catchment areas are attending an alternative school. It is anticipated that the establishment of a 420 place, all-through primary school, through significant capital investment to provide improved buildings and facilities, together with an expansion of early years provision on the site, will attract a greater number of children from within the schools' catchment area.

10. Procedure

10.1. In order to implement the amalgamation it is necessary to publish statutory proposals to discontinue the existing infant and junior schools and establish a new primary school on the existing site. Section 10(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 allows local authorities to seek approval from the Secretary of State to publish proposals for a new community school outside the competition procedure. The Secretary of State's approval to waive the competition procedure was given on 10 September 2009.

10.2. As a local authority proposal for a new school, after the end of the period for objections or other representations the final decision will be made by the Schools Adjudicator.

11. Recommendations

It is recommended that:

11.1. Public notices be published in accordance with Sections 10 and 15 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to:

(a) discontinue Barncroft Infant School and Barncroft Junior School with effect from 31 March 2011, and

(b) establish a two form entry community primary school outside of a competition to cater for 420 pupils aged 4 - 11 plus pre-school provision, in remodelled buildings on the Barncroft Schools' site with effect from 1 April 2011.

11.2. The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services undertake a detailed feasibility study to create a 2 form entry primary school with early years provision on the Barncroft Schools' site.

11.3. Approval be sought from the Executive Member Policy and Resources for the retention of 100% of the capital receipt from the sale of the surplus part of the Barncroft Schools' site for the Children's Services Primary Capital Programme.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Other Significant Links

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. Equalities issues have been considered and no adverse impact identified.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. These proposals will have no impact on crime and disorder.

3. Climate Change:

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

Opportunities will be assessed to reduce the impact in the design and build of a remodelled primary school.

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

No specific measures have been identified.