Archived decisions

Appendix 4

Consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Barncroft Infant and Junior schools to form a 420 place primary school

Introduction

A proposal has come about from the headteachers and governors of Barncroft Infant and Barncroft Junior schools, in conjunction with the County Council, to establish a 420 place (two forms of entry) primary school on the existing site. This document explains the current position and highlights some of the issues raised by the proposal to assist parents in responding to the consultation process. This process is designed to help the County Council and school governors find out what you think about the proposal. The outcomes of the consultation will be reported to County Councillors in the autumn term of 2009, who will decide whether or not to proceed with the proposal.

Background

The schools' governing bodies approached Hampshire County Council, as the authority responsible for planning and providing school places, to seek support in establishing a primary school on the Barncroft school site to enable the highest possible standards to be achieved for the children by the time they leave the primary school. The governors were concerned that by the time the children left for secondary school 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 expectation in English and Mathematics in their Standard Assessment Tests (SATs). The second reason the governors requested consultation on a primary school was due to falling numbers in the infant and junior schools; a direct result of the decline in the number of primary age children in the area. The forecast numbers for both schools are shown in the table below:

The decline in pupil numbers shown above is a trend not only being experienced in the Havant area, but across the county and country as a whole.

How may the establishment of a primary school help to raise standards?

The proposed new primary school will have one headteacher to ensure what the children learn in their early years will be built upon even more carefully as they move through the school. Established relationships with the children will enable learning to be effectively built upon across all key stages. It is expected that this will lead to an acceleration in children's progress throughout each key stage resulting in better attainment at the end of year 6.

What are the problems with surplus places / declining pupil numbers?

Where there are a significant number of spare or unfilled places, funding is being wasted on unnecessary premises costs i.e. heating, lighting, maintenance and security. This puts a drain on the resources available to support children's learning. The school's funding is directly related to the number of children at the school. A decline in pupil numbers, and a subsequent reduction in funding, presents considerable challenges for headteachers and governors in retaining and recruiting high quality staff with the expertise to deliver a full and balanced curriculum.

What would happen to the pupils?

The over-arching principle is that any changes will be managed in such a way as to minimise disruption to pupils' education. The County Council is currently undertaking feasibility work to establish which school buildings would best provide a 420 place primary school on the Barncroft site. Provision will also be identified for the existing early years provision.

How can you be sure that the number of pupils expected in the future is accurate?

Forecast figures shown in the above table take into account all planned new housing in the area and are based upon the County Council's tried and tested forecasting model. The proposal to provide a 420 place primary school leaves some flexibility, as the numbers in the table show.

What would happen to staff?

Consultations will take place with all staff who might be affected by the proposals, and with the trade unions. As a responsible and caring employer, the County Council would manage this aspect of the proposed change sensitively. The retention of high quality staff is a crucial element in the County Council's drive for improving standards and raising pupil achievements.

How will this affect governors?

As referred to in the introduction, the schools' governing bodies have been instrumental in taking forward this consultation with the support of the County Council. The governing bodies will be fully involved in the process of the review and would play a central role in managing the transition towards a primary school.

What changes will there be to the buildings?

Feasibility work is being undertaken to identify which buildings, adapted as necessary, would best accommodate the proposed primary school. The governing bodies will be fully involved in the identification process. In order to provide a modern 21^st century primary school, funding for the necessary building work for adaptations will be needed. Most of this money will come from the County Council's Primary Capital Programme. It is intended that land surplus to the requirements for a 420 place primary school will be sold to provide some of the funding necessary for improvement works. 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 the proposals when and if a planning application is submitted.

Why are the governing bodies in support of the infant and junior schools becoming a primary school?

· Governors believe there will be greater continuity and progression in children's learning through the smoother transition between the infant and junior phases of education which a primary school will provide.

· There will be improved buildings to facilitate learning and teaching.

· A primary school will provide a single team of high quality staff more able to share their expertise.

· There will be a single school for governors, parents and the wider community to focus on and support.

· A positive aid to the recruitment and retention of high quality staff.

Will I have the opportunity to discuss the proposals and ask questions?

Yes. There will be consultation events (listed over the page) for parents and other interested members of the community.

At the consultation meetings you will have the opportunity to hear County Council officers explain the reasons for the proposal and the process and timescales to be followed. We also want to hear your views on the proposal to amalgamate the two schools, which will then be reported back to County Councillors in the autumn term of 2009.

Consultation Programme

Local drop-in sessions:

Thursday, 7 May from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Barncroft Infant School

Friday, 15 May from 8:30am to 10:30am at Barncroft Junior School

Public meeting:

Wednesday, 20 May at 7:00pm at Barncroft Junior School

You are welcome to attend any of these sessions regardless of which school your child attends.

How can my views be heard?

Via the consultation events. However, it may be that you are not able to attend any of the scheduled meetings but would wish to express a view in writing.

Please do so by 5 June 2009 on the attached response form or via the following web site address:

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/education/schools/barncroft-school.htm

What happens next?

The responses to this consultation will be carefully considered by Hampshire County Council. If this proposal is supported, the Council will move onto a second formal stage of consultation involving the publication of statutory legal notices which will set out the changes proposed.

Consultation on the Barncroft Primary School proposal

Response Form

The proposal is that:

Barncroft Infant and Junior Schools amalgamate to create an all through 420 place (two forms of entry) primary school on the Barncroft school site.

Comment: (please continue overleaf if necessary) ..........................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Which of the following best describes your connection with the school(s)?

(please tick one only, which should be your main interest)

Signature: ................................................... Date: .............................

Please return this slip to your child's school prior to the start of the half term holiday (Friday 22 May)

OR to the address below by Friday 5 June 2009 at the latest.

Martin Hughes, School Organisation Officer

Children's Services Department, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UG