Proposed amalgamation of Hythe Community School and Hythe, St Leonard's Church of England Junior (Voluntary controlled) School, Shepway - Outcome of public consultation
By: Graham Badman, Strategic Director Education and Libraries and Leyland Ridings, Cabinet Member for School Organisation and Early Years to Cabinet - 11 July 2005
Summary: This report sets out the results of the public consultation for the amalgamation of Hythe
Community School and Hythe, St Leonard’s Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) School. It seeks Cabinet’s agreement to the issuing a public notice for the closure of both schools and assisting the interim governing body in issuing a public notice for the establishment of a 2FE all through (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School on the site of Hythe Community School
Introduction
1. (1) The School Organisation Advisory Board at its meeting on 17 March 2005 supported the undertaking of a public consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Hythe Community School and Hythe St Leonard's CEJ (VC) School.
(2) Hythe Community and Hythe St Leonard’s CE (VC) Junior Schools are both two form entry schools having an entry of up to 56 pupils in each year group.
(3) Hythe St Leonard’s School currently operates in inadequate Victorian buildings with the majority of classrooms being too small and either too hot or too cold. Its playing fields are located on land at Hythe Community School. Hythe Community School is an infant school in SEAC buildings.
(4) The schools are situated on separate sites with a distance of approximately 200m between them. A map is attached as Appendix 1 (please contact Geoff Mills on 01622 694289 or Karen Mannering on 01622 694367 for a copy of the map).
(5) Table 1 indicates capacities and forecast rolls of schools within a 2 mile radius of Hythe Community School and Hythe St Leonard’s Junior School.
Table 1 - School roll and forecast data for Hythe Community School and Hythe St Leonard's Junior School, Shepway Rural, as reported to the School Organisation Advisory Board at its meeting on 17 March 2005.
Forecast roll Provisio (3) Planned School nal roll Number of School name Typ admission capacity year groups e number (1) (2) Ja Ja Ja Ja Jan-05 n- n- n- n- 06 07 08 09
Hythe CS Infa 56 3 168 159 14 13 13 13 nt 0 6 1 3
Hythe, St Leonards CEJS Juni 56 4 224 195 21 22 22 20 or 7 4 2 9
Palmarsh PS* Prim 28 7 196 142 16 17 16 16 ary 7 2 9 9 Prim Seabrook CEPS 15 7 105 101 92 88 89 85 ary Saltwood CEPS Prim 30 7 210 222 21 20 19 19 ary 0 6 9 7
St Augustine's Catholic PS Prim 30 7 210 195 19 18 19 18 ary 3 8 4 9 Additional pupils from new - - - - - 10 19 46 74 housing within 2 miles (4)
Total pupils - within 2 miles - 215 - 1113 1014 10 10 10 10 29 33 50 56 Surplus/deficit on capacity - - - - - 99 84 80 63 57 within 2 miles (5)
Lympne CEPS Prim 32 7 224 232 23 23 22 22 ary 8 0 8 2
Cheriton PS Prim 58 7 406 388 37 35 34 33 ary 5 9 6 1
Folkestone, St Martin's CEPS Prim 30 7 210 207 21 20 19 19 ary 1 1 7 0
All Souls' CEPS Prim 36 7 252 284 27 25 25 23 ary 1 5 0 6 Additional pupils from new - - - - - 16 30 58 92 housing within 3 miles (4)
Total pupils - within 3 miles - 371 - 2205 2125 21 21 21 21 40 08 29 27 Surplus/deficit on capacity - - - - - 80 65 97 76 78 within 3 miles (5)
Notes: *The PAN for Palmarsh will be reduced to 20 in 2006-07. This will reduce surplus places by 56.
(1) Maximum number to be admitted for entry in September 2005
(2) School capacity is the planned admission number multiplied by the number of year groups
(3) Forecast roll data is based on projections made in January 2004
(4) This is an estimate, based on best current knowledge, of the number of additional primary-aged children that may have to be accommodated in primary schools in the area of Hythe Community School and Hythe St. Leonard's Junior School, as a result of local new housing developments Negative number indicates that there may not be sufficient places available to meet demand. A positive number indicates that there may be surplus school places.
The Proposal
2. (1) To amalgamate Hythe Community and Hythe St Leonard's CE (VC) Junior schools to form a single primary school, catering for pupils aged 4-11 years. The amalgamation, if approved, would be effected by the closure of both schools and the establishment of a new Church of England, Voluntary Controlled School on the Hythe Community School site.
(2) The new school would admit two forms of entry, giving it an admission number of 56 and a capacity of 392 (as now for the individual schools). The proposal would take effect from September 2007. (3) The Silver Felix Youth Centre occupies a building adjoining the St Leonard’s site. The centre uses the school’s playground and outbuildings. This facility would need to be replaced either on or offsite as part of the project. The school site is the preferred location and the feasibility study has made allowance for an onsite option which locates the youth centre at the front of the existing infant school. This option satisfies both headteachers, governing bodies and Youth and Community representatives. However, offsite alternatives are also currently being explored.
Background Information
3. (1) Amalgamation of these two schools was considered in 2000 following the resignation of the headteacher of the Hythe Community School. The governing bodies of both schools supported the proposals, but the capital for the required building work could not be raised. This situation has now been addressed.
(2) Kent County Council has had a policy of supporting the amalgamation of infant and junior schools since 1992 as part of “Children First – A Primary Strategy for Kent”. The Kent School Organisation Plan, approved by the Statutory School Organisation Committee, confirms this policy.
(3) As set out in the Next Four Years, KCC has commitment to working with schools to make them centres for community learning, and supporting them in meeting the wider needs of the community by engaging health, social services, the police, the voluntary sector and other services. By amalgamating the schools, we will give further emphasis on community provision in the area.
Public Consultation Process
4. (1) A consultation document in Appendix 2 (not available online) was circulated according to the County Procedures for Review. This included Local Members, District Council and Member of Parliament and other interested parties.
(2) Approximately 1,000 copies of the document were circulated.
(3) The document included a separate form on which respondents could express their views.
(4) A public meeting was held at Hythe Community School on 18 April 2005. The meeting was chaired by Mr W Hayton (Chairman of the School Organisation Advisory Board). Mr David Adams (Area Education Officer), Ms Julie Stones [Executive Support Officer) and Mrs Kendra Stanley-Berridge (Education Support Officer) were in attendance.
(5) There were 69 members of the public in attendance.
Responses to the Public Consultation Written Responses
5. (1) In total 91 written responses have been received, of which 83 were in favour and 8 were against.
(2) A summary of written responses is attached as Appendix 3. Responses to the main points are included in the Area Education Officer’s Comments in Section 10. Public Meeting Responses
(3) A summary of comments, views and responses is attached as Appendix 4.
Views of the Local Member
6. The Local Member, Mr C Capon, has been kept fully informed of the progress of this proposal. He is fully supportive of the amalgamation and believes it will benefit the pupils greatly and also the people of Hythe.
Views of the Governing Bodies The Governing Body of Hythe Community School
7. (1) The Governing Body of Hythe Community School strongly supports the amalgamation of the two schools for the following reasons: • We have a vision shared with the Governors of Hythe St Leonard's Junior School, our staff and our families, that all the children of Hythe will have the opportunity to attend one local primary school. • We believe that standards will rise when children no longer have to change school at the KS2 transition. • We know that a purpose built school, designed specifically for the education of children of 21st Century will allow for the development of a curriculum to further enhance children's learning and prepare them for life in the world of the future. • It will be possible to develop and extend on the early years, community and family support work initiated through the Early Excellence programme to provide full extended school services in the area. • Achievement and attainment will continue to rise when better partnerships are developed between staff working in all three phases of the curriculum. • The best use can be made of resources - financial, staffing and time if the school is amalgamated. The Governing Body of Hythe, St Leonard’s CE Junior School:
(2) The Governing Body of Hythe, St Leonard's CE Junior School strongly supports the amalgamation of the two schools for the following reasons: • We have a shared vision with our staff and parents and Hythe Community school Governing Body and its staff for a new through Primary school; • We consider it essential to provide a better teaching and learning environment for our pupils for the 21st Century; • ? It will encourage and motivate both staff and pupils to further raise standards and outcomes and improve the overall performance of the new school; • It will optimise resources such as staffing, finance and time which is given voluntarily from external sources in supporting the school; • It will provide a vital facility for the community for its use and development; • Both governing bodies readily agreed that the new school will be a Church school as this provides a sound foundation for the development of Christian beliefs, values and practices.
Views from the Canterbury Diocese
8. Canterbury Diocesan Board of Education is fully supportive of this innovative proposal, which will bring enhanced, all through primary provision in accommodation appropriate for the 21st century, building on the strengths and achievements of the two existing schools in serving the people of Hythe.
Views from Shepway District Council
9. Shepway District Council has been consulted on this proposal, to date no response has been received.
Views of the Area Education Officer
10. The benefits of all-through education for 4-11 year olds are well documented. Kent’s Primary Strategy ‘Children First’ (1992) suggests that they include:
(a) greater continuity in teaching, pupil care and development under a single headteacher and teaching staff;
(b) a greater range of teaching skills, including the opportunity to appoint curriculum co-ordinators to oversee the teaching of individual subjects to the while 4-11 age range;
(c) the greater flexibility which a 4-11 school has in organising classes, deploying teachers and support staff, and in using other resources more effectively;
(d) the ‘cushioning effect’ of a single 4-11 school budget on unexpected fluctuation in the school roll, and therefore budget;
(e) close contact with parents over a longer period of time and covering the full span of primary education;
(f) further improvement in the continuity between Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum; (g) a number of practical advantages to parents, e.g. same staff development days, same school policies relating to, for example, uniform, discipline and homework;
(h) the perception that transfer at age 7 can be seen as unnecessary disruption;
(i) the positive benefits of social interaction between older and younger pupils;
(j) The opportunity for the development of the community dimension would be of real benefit to the whole school community.
Resource Implications
Capital 11. [1] Feasibility work has now been completed. The cost of the new school building and associated works, including provision for the Silver Felix Youth Centre, has been calculated at being in the region of £2.1m. The capital receipt for the sale of the Hythe St Leonard’s CE (VC) site has been valued at £1.925m on behalf of the Diocesan Board.
(2) The Modernisation Programme (2004-2006) includes provision for this amalgamation to take place, subject to the majority of the funding coming from the disposal of the Hythe St Leonard’s CE (VC) site. The programme will cover the possible shortfall of £175k.
Revenue (3) As separate schools, the infant and juniors currently receive greater funding in their formula delegated budgets than will be the case with an amalgamated school. As an amalgamated school, the budget would be approximately £903k compared to the combined budgets of the two schools of £971k (2004-05). Additionally, the amalgamated school would receive £31k in Standards Grants and £33k in devolved capital compared to £41k and £56k respectively for the combined allocations of the current schools (2005-06 figures).
(4) There would be efficiency savings in the amalgamated school of at least £60k by employing one Headteacher and one Deputy Headteacher. There would also be efficiency savings in premises running costs and related staffing costs in the region of £20k.
(5) The proposed amalgamation would be eligible for support from the re-organisation fund. The fund has now been formularised and the sum of £45,500 is allocated to merging infant and junior schools as a one off grant to support the merger policy and offset the initial associated revenue costs.
Human (6) In order to appoint the best possible applicants to school leadership posts, the interim governing body will be advised to advertise the new headteacher and deputy headteacher posts nationally, and this may result in redundancy of one or all of the current incumbents. The number and grading of posts below that of headteacher would be determined by the interim governing body within the budget available under local management. The LEA is responsible for any redundancy costs but these cannot be quantified at this stage.
Transport and Road Safety Implications
12. (1) This proposed amalgamated school would continue to serve existing pupils of Hythe Community and Hythe St Leonard’s Junior Schools. These serve their local community. A high percentage of pupils at the infant school have siblings at the junior school. It is therefore expected that an amalgamation would reduce, rather than increase, traffic movements for these families. The two schools already have a joint travel plan and this is being reworked in preparation for amalgamation.
(2) The entrance and drop off facilities at Hythe Community School have recently been improved as part of a modernisation project. Cinque Ports Avenue is a one-way street and a focus of the travel plan will be to minimise school traffic in this road.
School Improvement Implications 13. (1) Hythe Community School was inspected in March 2005. The school judges itself to be a good school and Inspectors agreed. It is improving with some outstanding features. Hythe St Leonard’s CE (VC) Junior School was inspected in July 2002. It was found to be an improving school with many good features. Quality of teaching and learning was also satisfactory.
(2) There is considerable evidence that the continuity and progression in all through primary schools enhance children’s learning. Continuity and stability of relationships with adults is improved, especially for those from disrupted home backgrounds. Larger schools can provide more flexible opportunities for teaching pupils in groups of similar ability. Opportunities are created to develop specialist subject teaching, especially for older pupils. Better value for money in purchasing expensive and extensive curriculum resources. These enhancements would be supported by this proposal.
(3) Kent’s Curriculum Guidelines “An Education for Life (1996)” emphasises the importance of ensuring continuity in planning the curriculum across the stages of education to ensure that pupils can make the best possible progress in learning. Failure to achieve this risks inefficient repetition of content already covered. Confusion can also arise where teaching and learning approaches are inconsistent
Links to the School Organisation Plan
14. (1) The Authority’s policy to encourage the amalgamation of separate infant and junior schools in appropriate circumstances is outlined in the Kent School Organisation Plan.
Views of the School Organisation Advisory Board
15. At its meeting on 16 June the School Organisation Advisory Board supported the proposal to issue a public notice for the amalgamation of Hythe Community School and Hythe, St Leonard’s CE Junior (Voluntary Controlled) School, Hythe.
Proposed Timetable
16. If it is decided that a public notice should be issued in respect of the proposal, the following timetable could apply:
Issue Public Notice - 18 August 2005 End of period for statutory objections - 29 September 2005 Decision by Statutory School Organisation Committee - 15 November 2005 Implementation - September 2007
Recommendations
17. Cabinet is requested TO AGREE:
(a) to issuing a public notice for the closure of Hythe Community School and Hythe, St Leonard's Church of England Junior (Voluntary Controlled) School and assisting the interim governing body in issuing a public notice for the amalgamation of both schools by the establishment of a 2FE all through (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School from September 2007;
(b) subject to approval of the proposal following the end of the objection period, the resources necessary to implement the scheme being provided on the basis identified in this report.
David Adams, Area Education Officer, Ashford and Shepway, Tel: (01233) 898555
The Local Member is Mr C Capon
Background Documents: None • Previous Committee Reports: • Report to School Organisation Advisory Board 17 March 2005 • Report to School Organisation Advisory Board 16 June 2005
Other Sources of Information: • LEA School Organisation Plan Appendices • Appendix 1 - not available online (please contact Geoff Mills on 01622 694289 or Karen Mannering on 01622 694367) • Appendix 2 - not available online (please contact Geoff Mills on 01622 694289 or Karen Mannering on 01622 694367) • Appendix 3 • Appendix 4