Appendix 3 Consultation Document

Appendix 3

Consultation Document

CHILDREN, FAMILY AND ADULT SERVICES

The Future of Gembling Primary School

Consultation Document

JANUARY 2013

1 Introduction

National changes being introduced in April 2013 will make major changes to the way all schools are funded. Local authorities have to implement those changes and have to ensure that the way each school is funded complies with the new national scheme. A number of primary schools will be significantly affected. As a result, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council has had to carry out reviews of the future of a number of primary schools.

The new funding arrangements restrict the ways in which funding can be allocated to schools and protection which was previously in place for small schools will have to cease. Some schools’ funding will be reduced, particularly funding for small, rural schools like Gembling Primary School.

Gembling Primary School has been identified as a school that will be facing a significant budget deficit in the future as it will lose its small school protection and will receive less funding per pupil than it does at present. The reduction in funding means that the school’s running costs will exceed the school’s funding, leading to a deficit budget, with no foreseeable way for the school to be financially viable in the future. The local authority is therefore considering closure of the school at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.

Before any decisions are made, however, we would wish to consult with parents, staff, governors and other interested parties.

2 Pupil Numbers

Gembling Primary School has 26 pupils on roll. Of these, however, only five children are from the catchment area. The majority of pupils come from other areas such as North Frodingham, Beeford and Driffield.

There are, however, 19 children living in the Gembling catchment area and as mentioned above, only five actually attend Gembling Primary School. The other 14 children attend schools at North Frodingham, Burton Agnes, Driffield and Nafferton.

It is clear that the school is not serving its catchment area as the majority of children from the area attend other schools.

Pupils living in the Gembling catchment area and the schools that they attend School Gembling North Burton Driffield Driffield Nafferton TOTAL Frodingham Agnes Infant Junior Pupils 5 4 3 3 2 2 19

Pupils attending Gembling Primary School and the area where they live School Gembling North Driffield Driffield Beeford Skipsea Hilderthorpe TOTAL Frodingham Infant Junior Pupils 5 3 1 2 7 7 1 26

Gembling Primary School has had as many as 68 pupils on roll in the past. However, since 2001, pupil numbers have been declining. The table at the end of this document shows pupil numbers since 1997. Pupil projections for the school show that with very few live births in the area, numbers on roll will continue to decline.

3 Funding

The changes to the funding formula that are being brought in by the Government in April 2013 will not change the overall amount of money available to schools. It will, however, mean that how the funding is distributed will change. Any change in the funding formula will mean that some schools will receive more funding whilst others will see their funding reduced.

At present, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council uses 37 factors to make up the funding of schools in our area. The new national formula will reduce the number of factors that can be used to 12. One of the main factors that can no longer be used is the small school allowance. This allowance guaranteed small schools a level of income to support them regardless of the number of pupils actually on roll. The new national funding arrangements do not allow local authorities to support small schools in this way.

When the new funding arrangements start in April, Gembling Primary School will no longer receive the small school allowance. As approved by the East Riding Schools Forum, all primary schools will receive a flat rate allowance (lump sum) of £130,000. Other funding will then be allocated to each school using a range of factors, including the number of pupils on roll.

Gembling Primary School is the second smallest school in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is not surprising, therefore, that it also receives the second highest level of funding per pupil in the area.

The cost per pupil at Gembling Primary School in 2012-2013 is £8,113 compared to an average for all primary schools of £3,757. The school therefore receives over double the average level of funding per pupil.

Under the new funding arrangements, it is estimated that Gembling Primary School will receive £7,071 per pupil. This means that the school will receive £1,042 less per pupil than it does at present. With 26 pupils on roll, this equates to an annual reduction to the school’s budget of £27,092.

The Government has introduced a ‘minimum funding guarantee’ which means that the reductions in the funding for schools will not be implemented straight away, but will be phased in over several years. The minimum funding guarantee has been confirmed for two years.

The projected funding of Gembling Primary School is shown in the table below. Even with the minimum funding guarantee, the school will move into a budget deficit within two years. If the minimum funding guarantee is not extended, the deficit could be as high as £71k by 2015-2016.

The scale of the deficit cannot be sustained and there is little scope for the school to reduce its costs further than it has at present, for example by collaborating with another school and sharing a headteacher.

Cumulative Revenue Balance Year 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 Cumulative £17, 477 £9,452 -£15,650 -£71,626 Balance

4 Conclusion

East Riding of Yorkshire Council does not believe that Gembling Primary School can be sustained. The continued funding of a school that does not serve the needs of the majority of

children from its own community cannot be justified. Nor can it be justified to subsidise a school that is so heavily reliant on children from outside its own community.

Changes to the funding of schools mean that the school will very quickly become financially unviable and again, it would not be justifiable to continue to support a school with an ever increasing budget deficit.

5 Options

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is proposing to close Gembling Primary School at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. If this is approved, children currently on roll at the school would have to be offered places at another school.

Gembling Primary School already has very close links with North Frodingham Primary School. The two schools share an executive headteacher and collaborate with each other on many issues. The Council would therefore look at offering places at North Frodingham Primary School to all the pupils whose parents wish for them to transfer there.

Parents would also be able to express a preference for an alternative school. If places were available at the parents’ preferred school, they would be offered a place.

8 What Happens Next?

Parents, staff, governors, and other interested parties are being consulted on the proposal to close Gembling Primary School. Meetings will be held where the issues presented in this booklet will be discussed. The timetable for the process is set out below.

Consultation Public meetings will be held to discuss the Consultation closes proposal and to hear the views of parents, staff, 8 March 2013 governors and any other interested parties. Report to The Report to East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s 12 March 2013 Cabinet Cabinet on the consultations and giving recommendations as to whether or not to proceed with the proposal. Publication of If it is decided by Cabinet to proceed with the 8 April 2013 Proposal formal proposal, a Public Notice will be published in newspapers and posted at the school. Period of Notice The publication period will last for six weeks 8 April 2013 – during which representations can be made. 17 May 2013 Determination of The Cabinet will consider any representations Public Notice made and will determine the proposal. The 21 May 2013 Cabinet can-

i) Confirm the closure; or ii) Reject the proposal; or iii) Propose amendments to the proposal (e.g. an alternative date)

Implementation Proposal implemented (if approved). End of 2012-2013 school year

If you wish to make any comments at this stage, please write or e-mail by Friday 8 March 2013 to:-

School Organisation Officer Pupil Services Children, Family & Adult Services East Riding of Yorkshire Council County Hall BEVERLEY East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 9BA e-mail – [email protected]

Gembling Primary School Year (January) Livebirths Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Total School's total Surplus Places capacity Number % 1997 10 7 8 8 6 8 7 54 52 -2 -4% 1998 9 10 7 8 10 4 9 57 52 -5 -10% 1999 3 8 10 12 5 9 8 4 56 52 -4 -8% 2000 4 9 9 10 13 7 10 8 66 52 -14 -27% 2001 0 8 11 8 10 14 7 10 68 52 -16 -31% 2002 4 6 7 7 8 9 13 6 56 52 -4 -8% 2003 2 3 6 8 7 10 9 14 57 52 -5 -10% 2004 1 9 3 7 7 7 11 10 54 52 -2 -4% 2005 1 6 9 4 7 7 7 11 51 52 1 2% 2006 1 6 6 10 4 7 6 9 48 52 4 8% 2007 3 5 6 6 8 2 7 7 41 52 11 21%

Actualroll numbers on 2008 2 3 5 6 5 10 2 7 38 52 14 27% 2009 0 5 4 5 5 6 9 3 37 52 15 29% 2010 3 1 5 4 5 5 6 9 35 52 17 33% 2011 1 1 2 4 4 6 5 7 29 52 23 44% 2012 4 2 2 3 5 7 8 31 52 21 40% 2013 2 4 2 2 4 5 9 28 52 24 46% 2014 0 3 4 2 2 4 7 21 52 31 59%

2015 4 0 2 4 2 2 5 19 52 33 64% roll

2016 1 4 0 2 4 2 3 16 52 36 68%

Projected numbers on 2017 2 1 4 0 3 5 3 17 52 35 68%

County Hall Beverley East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 9BA Telephone 01482 887700 www.eastriding.gov.uk John Wilson Assistant Director

To: All Interested Parties Our Ref : PAB/PR/Gembling Your Ref : Contact : Paul Butler Direct Line: 01482 392110 Fax No: 01482 392102 Email: [email protected] Date 25 February 2012

Gembling Primary School – Extension of Consultation Period

At the consultation meeting held on 4 February 2013 it was requested that more time be allowed for the consultation on the future of Gembling Primary School. It was also requested that a further meeting be held.

I am writing to inform you that the consultation period has been extended until Monday 15 April 2013. There will also be another meeting for any interested party to attend which will be held at Gembling Primary School on Tuesday 5 March 2013 at 6.00pm. The revised timetable will be as follows:

Consultation ends 15 April 2013 Cabinet Consideration of proposal 23 April 2013 Publication of proposal (if approved) 25 April 2013 Period of notice 25 April 2013 – 6 June 2013 Determination of public notice 25 June 2013 Implementation 31 August 2013

The current consultation document is available on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council website. Further information will be sent to you prior to the next consultation meeting.

Yours sincerely

Paul Butler Inclusion & Access Manager

County Hall Beverley East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 9BA Telephone 01482 887700 www.eastriding.gov.uk John Wilson Assistant Director

To: Parents, Staff & Governors of Our Ref : PAB/PR/Gembling Neighbouring Schools Your Ref : Contact : Paul Butler Direct Line: 01482 392110 Fax No: 01482 392102 Email: [email protected] Date 20 March 2013

Dear

Review of Gembling Primary School

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is carrying out a consultation on the future of Gembling Primary School. I am writing to you to ask you for your views on the proposals the Council has put forward.

The new scheme does not alter the amount of funding that the local authority has to distribute to schools, but it does change the ways in which local authorities can decide how to allocate money to schools. The new national scheme limits the factors that can be used to decide how much funding a school gets and the indications are that about half of the primary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire will receive more money each year, but the other half will have their budgets reduced.

Because of the way central government funding is allocated, schools in East Riding of Yorkshire are already funded at one of the lowest levels in the country. The impact on schools that lose funding will therefore be significant and will affect how well they are able to educate their children.

In order to support all schools and particularly those that are losing funding, the Council is reviewing the overall number of schools it maintains. If there are fewer schools, then each remaining school will receive a greater share of the funding that is available. The schools we are looking at include those that we do not believe are financially sustainable and those where the children on roll can easily be accommodated at other local schools.

Gembling Primary School has been identified as a school that the Council does not believe is financially sustainable and where the children can be catered for at another school.

Pupil Numbers

Gembling Primary School has 26 pupils on roll. Of these, however, only five children are from the school’s catchment area. The majority of pupils come from other areas as shown in the table below.

Pupils attending Gembling Primary School and the area where they live Catchment Gembling North Driffield Driffield Beeford Skipsea Hilderthorpe TOTAL area Frodingham Infant Junior Pupils 5 3 1 2 7 7 1 26

Pupils living in the Gembling catchment area and the schools that they attend School Gembling North Burton Driffield Driffield Nafferton TOTAL Attending Frodingham Agnes Infant Junior Pupils 5 4 3 3 2 2 19

Gembling Primary School has had as many as 68 pupils on roll in the past. However, since 2001, pupil numbers have been declining. Pupil projections for the school show that, with very few live births in the area, numbers on roll are likely to continue to decline.

Funding

Under the new funding arrangements in 2013-2014, Gembling Primary School will receive £8,905 per pupil. The average funding per primary pupil will be £3,737. The school therefore receives over double the average level of funding per pupil.

Where schools are losing funding as a result of the changes in the formula, a minimum funding guarantee has been introduced which means that the reductions in the funding for schools will not be implemented straight away, but will be phased in over several years. Under the minimum funding guarantee, the budget a school gets under the new funding scheme will not fall by more than 1.5% per pupil. This minimum funding guarantee has been confirmed for two years and the Department for Education has stated that it will provide some support in the 2015-2016 financial year, but they have not yet confirmed how much support will be provided.

The projected budget for Gembling Primary School shows that even if the minimum funding guarantee is kept at the level that it is at the moment, the school is looking to move into a budget deficit within three years.

The deficit cannot be sustained and there is little scope for the school to reduce its costs further than it has at present.

Proposal

East Riding of Yorkshire Council does not think that Gembling Primary School can be sustained. The continued funding of a school that does not serve the needs of the majority of

8 children from its own community is difficult to justify. It is also difficult to justify the continued subsidy of a school that is so heavily reliant on children from outside its own community. Even if all of the children living in Gembling Primary School’s catchment area attended their local school, the school would still be dependent on attracting additional children away from other schools to have enough numbers on roll to make the school have a more equitable level of funding per pupil.

Gembling Primary School already has very close links with the neighbouring North Frodingham Primary School. The two schools share an executive headteacher and collaborate with each other on many issues. The Council would therefore look at offering places at North Frodingham Primary School to all the pupils whose parents wish for them to transfer there. There is enough accommodation at North Frodingham Primary School to cater for all of the children at Gembling without creating large classes or causing overcrowding.

Parents would also be able to express a preference for an alternative school. If places were available at the parents’ preferred school, they would be offered a place.

What Happens Next?

The consultation on the future of Gembling Primary School began in January 2013. As part of the consultation, the Council has been asked to consider introducing a nursery at the school. It has been argued that a nursery would make the school more attractive for parents and would therefore lead to more children attending the school.

We have also been asked to consult with parents, staff and governors from neighbouring schools for their views as children from the Gembling catchment area currently attend these schools.

The consultation period runs until 15 April 2013 after which the Cabinet of the Council will be asked to consider the future of the school. If you wish to make any comments on the proposal, please send them to-

School Organisation Officer Pupil Services Children, Family & Adult Services East Riding of Yorkshire Council County Hall BEVERLEY East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 9BA e-mail – [email protected]

Yours sincerely

Paul Butler Inclusion & Access Manager