REVIEW OF SECONDARY EDUCATION PROVISION IN HAVERFORDWEST CONSULTATION REPORT MARCH 2017 Published by: Pembrokeshire County Council Children & Schools Directorate County Hall Haverfordwest SA61 1TP March 2017 For a copy of this publication in Braille, in larger print or audio tape, or an alternative language, please contact Pembrokeshire County Council on 01437 776613 Foreword Pembrokeshire County Council is responsible for promoting high educational standards and for delivering efficient primary and secondary education. Having the right schools in the right places and ensuring that they are fit for the 21st century learner is considered central to this and is a challenge facing councils across Wales. Meeting this challenge involves reviewing the number and type of school the Council has in its area and assessing whether or not best use is being made of these schools to deliver effective education to meet the needs and aspirations of learners in Pembrokeshire. The Council reviews its education provision on the basis of: Quality and future sustainability of education delivery Sufficiency and accessibility of school places The condition, suitability and standard of school buildings Value for money This Consultation Report sets out the statutory consultation undertaken regarding the case for change to secondary education provision in Haverfordwest. All comments and responses received during the consultation period have been recorded, and have been collated and summarised in this document. Acknowledgement or rebuttal of comments and responses has been included (as appropriate). Pembrokeshire County Council will consider this Consultation Report in its meeting on 6 April 2017. Katharine Evan-Hughes Director for Children and Schools Contents 1. Executive Summary 4 2. Introduction 5 3. Distribution of Consultation Report 5 4. Consultation Arrangements 6 4.1 Consultation with the Tasker Milward & Picton Charity 4.2 Consultation Document 4.3 Consultation Meetings 4.4 Consultation with Children & Young People 5. Consultation Correspondence 9 5.1 Volume & Profile of responses received 5.2 Response from Estyn 5.3 Response from Pembrokeshire College 6. Consultation Responses 11 6.1 General consensus 6.2 Issues raised by Estyn 6.3 Issues raised by Pembrokeshire College Appendix A 31 Consultation with Children & Young People Appendix B 37 Correspondence received as part of statutory consultation Appendix C 157 Response from Estyn 1. Executive Summary 1.1 Key Outcomes The findings arising from the statutory consultation provide compelling evidence that there is a strong level of support for the establishment of a new 11-19 secondary school in Haverfordwest. It should be noted, however, that much of this support is conditional upon the need to minimise disruption to both pupils and staff in order to raise standards. This appears to have an evidential basis, being founded on personal experience and/or an understanding of the gravity of not having any schools classified as Good or Outstanding and recent Estyn judgements. The conditional support is based upon the following: The need to ensure that pupils and staff are not unduly inconvenienced or are subject to disruption more than is absolutely necessary; That the new school should not operate over two sites more than is absolutely necessary; That the Council should continue to maintain the two current schools until such time as: o Band B capital funding is assured; o A new school has been built and is ready for occupation. 1.2 Conclusion School improvement is at the very heart of this proposal and it is clear that change must occur sooner rather than later in order to improve outcomes for learners attending secondary education provision in Haverfordwest. It is considered that an early amalgamation of Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools is essential in order to bring about a change for the better. Parental concerns in relation to the disruption to pupils is acknowledged, and assurances must be given that such disruption would be kept to a minimum. There is little doubt that the consultation has resulted in a strong level of support for the proposal and that this is in stark contrast to previous proposals which were in relation to 11-16 provision. The agreement to the Council’s current proposal, albeit conditional, and the strength of feeling displayed previously for a need for 11-19 provision in Haverfordwest, suggests that a recommendation should be made to proceed to Statutory Notice. 4 2. Introduction Pembrokeshire County Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient and suitable school places in its area and to determine whether it is making the best use of resources and facilities to deliver the opportunities that children deserve. At its meeting on 20 October 2016, Council resolved to authorise the Director for Children and Schools to undertake consultation with the Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity on the following proposal: i. Discontinue Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward VC schools on 31 August 2018; ii. Establish a new 11-19 English medium secondary school in Haverfordwest with effect from 1 September 2018, utilising the sites of the current schools. Statutory consultation with the Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity was undertaken during October and November 2016, the findings of which were reported to Council on 8 December 2016. The resolution arising from this meeting noted the Trustees’ response and authorised the Director for Children and Schools to undertake general (statutory) consultation. This document represents the County Council’s responsibility as part of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 to publish a Consultation Document, and: Summarises each of the issues and concerns raised by consultees; Responds to these issues by means of clarification or rejection of the concerns with supporting reasons, and Sets out Estyn’s view of the overall merits of the proposal. 3. Distribution of Consultation Report . The Governing Bodies, parents, guardians and staff of all schools in the Sir Thomas Picton, Tasker Milward VC, Milford Haven and St David’s clusters of schools, Portfield School and Ysgol Gymraeg Glan Cleddau; . The pupils / school councils of all the above schools; . Pembrokeshire College; . The Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity; . The Directors of Education for the Diocese of St David’s and the Diocese of Menevia; . Assembly Members: Paul Davies (constituency), Rebecca Evans (regional), William Powell (regional), Simon Thomas (regional), Joyce Watson (regional); . Member of Parliament: Stephen Crabb; . Teaching and support staff trade unions: NUT, NASUWT, UCAC, ATL, NAHT, ASCLE, UNISON, GMB; . Welsh Minister for Education and Skills; . Estyn; . Carmarthenshire County Council and Ceredigion County Council; . ERW – Regional Education Consortium; . Council Transport Manager; . Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner; . Pembrokeshire Communities First; . Pembrokeshire Local Service Board; . Hywel Dda Health Board; 5 . SNAP Cymru; . The Charities Commission; . The following Community, Town and City Councils: Ambleston, Burton, Camrose, Freystrop, Haverfordwest, Hayscastle, Hook, Johnston, Llangwm, Llanstadwell, Llawhaden, Merlin’s Bridge, Neyland, Nolton & Roch, Rosemarket, Rudbaxton, Spittal, The Havens, Tiers Cross, Uzmaston Boulston & Slebech, Walwyn’s Castle, Wiston, Wolfscastle; . Childcare & Young People’s Partnership – Early Years, Childcare and Learning Group. In addition, this report will be distributed to all consultees who have specifically requested to be advised of its availability. 4. Consultation Arrangements 4.1 Consultation with the Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity (a) Prior to the commencement of general statutory consultation, and in accordance with the School Organisation Statutory Code (The Code), consultation on the Council’s proposal was undertaken with the Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity. In view of the fact that various parcels of land on the Tasker Milward school site are in the ownership of the above Charity, it is a requirement to conduct consultation with the trustees before the consultation document is published, to allow 28 days for the receipt of comments and to have due regard to those comments before any decision is made to proceed to general consultation. (b) All issues raised by the Trustees were included in a report considered by Council on 8 December 2016, and are replicated below. In accordance with statutory requirements, Council paid due regard to the issues raised prior to approving to continue with general statutory consultation. Matters Raised by the Trust Response 1 The Trustees are pleased to note The Director is continuing to facilitate that the proposal is for an 11-19 discussions with all post 16 providers to school retaining a sixth form with a establish a sustainable model for the wide range of courses, whilst future. accepting that not all courses will be viable and that some will have to be provided in co-operation with other schools and Pembrokeshire College. 2 One of the purposes of the Trust is to The Council gives due regard to the provide a site for Tasker Milward Trust looking favourably on a proposal School. That purpose cannot be to use the site. The property identified fulfilled if Tasker Milward is in the schedule of the Tasker Milward discontinued, but the Trustees will and Picton Charity Trust Scheme look favourably on a proposal to use (1983) is to be appropriated and used the site for an alternative 11-19 for the purposes of the school i.e. held secondary school, if it is determined on trust for the purposes of Tasker that the site can accommodate the Milward School. new school. In order to minimise any potential public objections, the Not all the land is held under the Trust Trustees consider that an alternative Scheme. Those parts that are not scheme should make specific remain vested in the Council. reference to the age range 11-19. 6 Matters Raised by the Trust Response 3 The Trustees would also consider The Council welcomes the opportunity favourably an arrangement for an provided, and gives due regard to the exchange of land, should the Council suggestion.