Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. The purpose of this report is to seek authority to consult on the proposal to close Chineham Park Primary School with effect from 31 August 2010 and for pupils to transfer to a neighbouring school.

2. Contextual information

School performance/pupil achievement

2.1. Chineham Park Primary School was inspected on 27 January 2009 and judged to be inadequate and requiring Special Measures because it is:

"failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement. The inadequate provision over a period of time, the ongoing gaps in pupils' learning and the legacy of under-achievement from the past are all preventing pupils from making appropriate progress. These issues have not been resolved despite being identified in previous reports and monitoring visits."

2.2. The school has required considerable intervention over the past four years. When the school was inspected in October 2006 it was judged to be inadequate and served with a Notice to Improve. Significant support from the local authority (LA) was provided; LA powers of intervention were also used to place two additional governors on the governing body. Improvements were made and the school was judged to be satisfactory in November 2007, although the standards achieved by learners and the attendance of learners were both judged to be inadequate. Improvement was required in relation to the standards in English, Mathematics and Science, inconsistencies in teaching, and attendance levels. A monitoring visit in December 2008 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate raised very serious concerns about the standard of education provided by the school.

2.3. The January 2009 OfSTED inspection report states that:

"Standards are exceptionally low in writing and mathematics and, except for Key Stage 1 in 2007, this has broadly been the picture since 2002".

2.4. The report goes on to state that:

"Standards have been too low for several years and pupils are not being prepared well enough for their future economic well-being or for the next stage of their education."

2.5. When a school is judged by OfSTED to be "inadequate" and requiring special measures to ensure the children receive an acceptable standard of education, the LA is required to consider the scope for closure of the school and to comment on this within a Statement of Action. The LA Statement of Action for Chineham Park Primary School, submitted in March 2009, includes the following paragraph:

"There are two primary schools and four pairs of infant/junior schools within one mile of Chineham Park Primary School. In September 2009 surplus places at these 10 schools are forecast to rise to 551, representing 23% of the schools' total capacity. In 2010 surplus places at the 10 schools are forecast to remain relatively constant at 544 (22% of capacity).

Whilst a number of these surplus places will be needed to accommodate children from planned new housing in the area, the present economic climate and subsequent slow-down in building has resulted in a greater number of surplus places than anticipated, both now and for the foreseeable future.

All 10 of these neighbouring schools are judged to be satisfactory or better by OfSTED.

Given the above, there is clear scope for the closure of Chineham Park Primary School and the local authority could well decide to consult on this option. If such a course of action is pursued, and the subsequent decision made that the school will close, then the expected closure date will be August 2010."

2.6. In October 2008 there were 429 primary schools in Hampshire which were ranked from 1 (most deprived) to 429 (least deprived) on the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Chineham Park Primary School was ranked 40^th on this scale.

Pupil numbers in schools

2.7. Table 1 below sets out present and forecast pupil numbers for Chineham Park Primary School which has a planned admission number (PAN) of 25.

2.8. Forecast pupil numbers at Chineham Park Primary School are predicated on a continuing pattern of enrolment which reflects a 34% participation rate, indicating that two out of three primary aged children living within the school's catchment area attend an alternative school. The forecast increase in numbers reflects housing development within the school's catchment area and assumes that one in three primary aged children moving into the new housing will attend Chineham Park Primary School.

2.9. Table 2 below lists schools within one mile of Chineham Park Primary School and sets out capacities, present and forecast numbers on roll and surplus places:

2.10. There are a further 11 infant, junior and primary schools within two miles of Chineham Park Primary School. The combined total of surplus places at these schools is set out in Table 3 below:

Surplus Places
2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14
361	344	265	176

3. Children's Centre / Special Educational Needs

3.1. Chineham Park Primary School shares a site with "Pebbles", a phase 2 purpose built children's centre which provides 56 full day care places for 0 - 5 year olds between 8am. and 6pm. 30 places for the unders 3's are housed in the children's centre and 26 places for 3-5 year olds are housed in the school.

3.2. This core offer for childcare has recently been secured through a tender exercise with the contract being awarded to "Kids" who specialise in meeting children's special educational needs (SEN). The tender was linked with the County Council's SEN strategy and the provision secures 10 places for children with SEN in the Basingstoke area with the provider acting as the SEN hub of expertise in this area of the county.

4. Consultation

4.1. Should consultations be authorised, meetings with Chineham Park Primary School's interim executive board, staff, parents and the wider Chineham Park community will be arranged. Pupils at the school will be consulted along with local schools and other educational establishments, local councillors, the Teachers Liaison Panel, Unison, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, parish councils, the appropriate church diocese, the local MP and other interested parties.

5. Legal Implications

5.1. None

6. Financial Implications

6.1. None

7. Personnel Implications

7.1. None

8. Impact Assessment

8.1. A full impact assessment will be undertaken in conjunction with any authorised consultation process.

9. Crime Prevention Issues

9.1. Consideration of crime prevention issues will be undertaken in conjunction with any authorised consultation process.

10. Views of the local County Councillor

10.1. The local County Councillor is aware of the recommendations in this report and her views on the possible closure of Chineham Park Primary School and the related issues will be sought as part of any authorised consultation process.

11. Conclusion

11.1. Educational standards at the school are a major cause for concern, as is the recent fall in pupil numbers which presents a further challenge for the school.

11.2. The childcare provision offered through the children's centre is a valued resource which is needed to ensure sufficient early education childcare in the area.

12. Recommendation(s)

It is recommended that :

12.1. Approval is given to consultations taking place during the autumn term 2009 on the proposal to close Chineham Park Primary School with effect from 31 August 2010 ;

12.2. A report on the outcome of consultations be prepared for submission in December 2009.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

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. The proposal 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?

There is no impact.

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

There is no impact.