CITY COUNCIL Cabinet Report 9

Report of: Sonia Sharp ______

Date: 22 December 2010 ______

Subject: Strategy update: Our Schools as Community Hubs – The Wider Community use of School Sites ______

Author of Report: Mark Sheikh 0114 2813768 ______

Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide an update on progress made to implement the recommendations outlined in the “Our Schools as Community Hubs – The Wider Community Use of School Sites” cabinet paper. ______

Reasons for Recommendations: Schools and Community Buildings at the centre of community engagement, supported by multi agency teams will not only engage delivery of a better life for children and young people, but will also support development of stronger and more cohesive communities. Schools will be able to provide and host a range of services and activities beyond the school day, making best use of facilities and placing the school at the heart of its community .

Recommendations: • To inform Cabinet of the progress so far in the implementation of Our Schools as Community Hubs’ vision for all schools and community buildings to be at the heart of their communities offering wider community services.

• To agree to set up a council wide governance framework co-chaired by the Director of Property & Facilities Management Services and the Director of Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership, to oversee development and delivery of this policy.

• To receive an update and an action plan in March 2011 to demonstrate the progress in implementing this policy.

1 ______

Background Papers: Our schools As Community Hubs – The Wider Community Use of School Sites

Category of Report: OPEN

2 Statutory and Council Policy Checklist

Financial Implications

Yes Cleared by: Allan Rainford

Legal Implications

Yes Cleared by: Nadine Wynter

Equality of Opportunity Implications NO Cleared by:

Tackling Health Inequalities Implications

NO

Human rights Implications

NO:

Enviro nmental and Sustainability implications

NO

Economic impact

NO

Community safety implications

NO

Human resources implications

NO

Property implications

YES Cleared by: Nalin Seneviratne NTS/043/081010

Area(s) affected

All

Relevant Cabi net Portfolio Leader

Councillor Colin Ross Relevant Scrutiny Committee if decision called in

Is the item a matter which is reserved for approval by the City Council? NO

Press release

YES/NO

3 STRATEGY UPDATE – OUR SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY HUBS – THE WIDER COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL SITES

1. SUMMARY

1.1. The purpose of this report is to provide an update on progress made to implement the recommendations outlined in the “Our Schools as Community Hubs – The Wider Community Use of Schools Sites” 10 February 2010, cabinet paper.

2. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SHEFFIELD PEOPLE

2.1. This policy envisages the creation of opportunities for local communities to have greater access to school and community buildings. Wider use of school sites for purposes beyond teaching and learning, at times beyond the traditional school day and term, and for people beyond the ages of 3- 18, can help more people achieve and aspire. It can also benefit other local residents by offering more convenient services located together, and bringing people together from various age groups, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds. This policy allows schools to be at the heart of local communities, delivering more services to a wider range of people, and at times which suit them.

3. OUTCOME AND SUSTAINABILITY

3.1. At the heart of this policy lies a clear vision which focuses on both the educational benefits for children and young people, and the wider benefits for adults and community. This vision is endorsed by the schools in the city and will continue to form part of our plans to co-construct a long-term strategic partnership in response to government’s school reforms.

3.2. This policy recognises the primary function of a school building as hosting teaching and learning activities for children and young people, but seeks greater emphasis on the potential for the school to be a community building. In the fullness of time, this policy will enable schools to become centres of learning for everyone in the community, enhanced by a range of complementary services available on site to enable every member of the community to access what they need and when they need it.

3.3. This policy actively seeks opportunities for wider community use of school sites, including the co-location of services, and aims to empower residents in neighbourhoods through community assemblies to set out ideas for how they would like to use their local schools sites. Wherever possible, schools will be part of a viable local centre where people can access basic facilities such as local shops, medical centres, libraries, post offices, job centres and community centres.

4 3.4. The policy will enable delivery of the City of Opportunity priorities of raising aspirations and attainment through increasing parental engagement in their children’s education; vibrant, safe and strong communities through increasing activities which promote strong relationships including between people of different ages and ethnic background; thriving district and local centres through access to basic facilities such as medical centres, libraries and community centres and supporting people to be healthy and independent through use of school sports facilities by the wider local population .

3.5. Schools as community hubs can provide a focus for a stronger sense of community life in localities, with potential to break down inter-generational barriers with greater interaction between young and old, and to promote community cohesion by greater social interaction between people of different social, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

3.6. It allows specific benefits to the community by having access to a wide variety of facilities, which in some case are only available on a school site e.g. sports facilities, performance space, halls and meeting rooms. More Schools and community buildings could be centres for adult learning, enhancing adult qualifications and employability, and provide community sports and leisure services, improving health, fitness and well-being.

3.7. Wider use of schools sites supports improvement to children’s attainment and aspiration by engaging their parents more in school, and by making it easier and more attractive for them to visit school through co-location of other services, especially services for parents. In some locations, schools as community hubs can support and reinforce thriving district centres through bringing more people into an area where retail and commercial premises are also located; e.g. libraries, health facilities, housing offices.

3.8. Cost savings can be achieved from shared common services using the same buildings or sites. Anecdotal evidence suggests that schools are less likely to be vandalised when these sites are used by or host local community groups.

4. Progress since February 2010

4.1 On 10 February 2010, Cabinet agreed to endorse a vision for all schools and community buildings that sees them at the heart of their communities offering wider community services. Over the last six months a number of specific actions have been taken to achieve this vision and to deliver these outcomes.

4.2 The objective of achieving wider community access on school sites has become a key consideration in all capital investment since the policy was adopted. The CYPS capital strategy when presented to Cabinet in 2011, will reflect the Council’s wider community use strategy and future plans for investment across all areas of Children & Young People’s Services, (including extended schools, youth and adult learning) will be coordinated

5 within the strategy and will support this aim. The main achievement to date has been to direct more investment within the current capital programme towards the provision of sports and play facilities on school sites. Other schemes funded through extended schools and other capital schemes are also contributing to the policy. The following is a brief overview of these developments:

4.3 Since the first report in February, we have received confirmation of continued Building Schools for Future funding and agreement on reinvestment of the capital receipt from the Chaucer Business and Enterprise College. Discussion is currently taking place with Partnership for Schools in response to an announcement on the 22 nd of October 2010 by Central Government suggesting that savings would need to be found from BSF schemes. We have been asked to identify potential savings that could be made in the currently planned expenditure of both the construction and ICT funding for all schemes that have yet to reach financial close.

Sports and Play Facilities

4.4 Sheffield has created a new local policy whereby all Building Schools for the Future projects that are providing new sports facilities, both indoor and outdoor, will be required to enter into a community use agreement and a facilities management plan, to secure community use of the facilities.

4.5 The proposal for reinvestment of the capital receipt from the disposal of land at Chaucer Business and Enterprise College gives due consideration to wider community use. By the end of July 2011, 25 primary schools within two miles of Chaucer will have new active playgrounds directly benefiting 7,900 pupils. By September 2012, four secondary schools within 2 miles of Chaucer and six other local secondary schools will have new sports facilities for school and community use. This will benefit not just the 16,500 pupils at these schools, who will have access to better play and sport facilities, but their wider local communities programmes will be developed in partnership with the community to ensure that the facilities offer high quality, relevant programmes for as many people as possible to enjoy.

4.6 The following projects are part of the our sports and play facilities strategy and funding from Chaucer Business and Enterprise College capital receipt has been earmarked to support these projects.

Chaucer Business and Enterprise College 4.7 Plans have been approved to build an all weather football pitch and an artificial athletics training facility at Chaucer Business and Enterprise College. This exciting project is being led by the school but has been developed in partnership with Hallamshire Harriers Athletics Club and Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association. The proposed completion date for this project is summer 2011.

Parkwood Academy

6 4.8 As part of ’s aspiration to be a community asset, it will be used to provide education to adults and families, community facilities for meetings, performances and celebrations and it will be a venue for a wide range of activities related to sport, fitness and well being. Linked to the City Football Facility Strategy, an all weather multi-use pitch will be developed. The proposed completion date for this project is September 2012.

City School 4.9 The City School has been selected as part of the City Strategy for Football. The development of a multi-use games area, with matched funding from the Football Foundation, will go a long way to meeting the high, unsatisfied demand for facilities in the area. The proposed completion date for this project is September 2012 subject to capital feasibilities.

Forge Valley School 4.10 On the current site, the new , to open in September 2011, is also part of the City Strategy for Football. Plans are being developed subject to various feasibilities for pitches to be developed to a point where they can be used extensively for both curriculum and community use. The school has been identified by the British Cycling Federation as a regional site for its Traffic Free Cycle Sport Facilities. This is an exceptional opportunity not only for the school but also for Sheffield as this will be one of the first of its kind based at an education site. The proposed completion date for this project is September 2011.

Stocksbridge High School 4.11 has one of the best developed community football clubs in the City. As part of the city strategy, capital funds will be invested to develop the school facilities to further improve the school to community link that is already in existence. The investment would provide the school with a multi-use games area when building is completed in September 2011.

Extended Schools

4.12 CYPS continues to foster and develop extended school use with schools and other partners, providing families access to a core offer of activities and services wrapped around the school day aimed at supporting young people and their families to achieve their full potential. Most schools in Sheffield now provide access to a full menu of ‘core offer’ activities including parental support, signposting, childcare and recreational activities. In 2010, all secondary schools will be open between 8am and 6pm providing a range of activities for young people. Services like breakfast clubs and after school clubs can be provided by the school or by a provider on a school site. Schools can also signpost families to other schools/provision. Wider community access to school facilities has always been part of the extended use agenda and funding continues to be sought to enable more accessible facilities and services to be developed.

7 4.13 In consultation with the local community and schools, the extended services team has recently submitted external funding bids to “Community Wildlife” and “Award for all” for development of community gardens and community allotments. Funding has been awarded by these funding bodies for Loxely Primary £6,500, Ecclesall Junior school £8,000 and Birley Community College £10,000 to proceed with these projects.

4.14 “Award for all” has confirmed revenue funding of £9,400 to Yewlands family of schools to provide Community Adult Learning. Parents will be given the opportunity to attend courses on manicures and nail art, jewellery making, aromatherapy and reflexology, Indian head massage, arts and crafts and digital media. Parents and carers will be invited to attend courses held both in the individual schools and in the local community centre.

School Business Projects

4.15 With the benefit of support from Local Economic Growth Initiative funding, schools have developed a number of initiatives to bring business into schools which can be accessed by the community.

• Since February, Fir Vale Business Enterprise College has been successfully re-branded following a review and implementation of a new marketing plan.

• A launch event in February utilising a Venture Matrix Team from Sheffield Hallam University was very successful and has resulted in several new clients, more income and a sound base for growth.

• In Myers Grove an Art business using a Frooly website (E- commerce) is nearing completion.

• At Chaucer, a Project with Pedal Peak District has begun and work is underway linking to the travel and tourism bureau on the site.

• Meadowhead and a number of other schools have begun to produce a school enterprise newsletter called “In the Zone”.

4.16 Big challenge brings businesses into schools both to act as 'dragon's den' sifters of applicants, to mentor teams and to provide sponsorship of prize money from diverse sources such as DLA Piper and the Royal Victoria hotel. Deepening employer involvement in schools is one of the priorities in the proposal for the Local Enterprise Partnership put forward by the “Sheffield city region.''

School places planning

4.17 In response to recent growth in the birth rate, Sheffield is developing strategies across the school system for providing additional school places. In line with the policy, additional space constructed on school sites will be designed where possible, to be flexible so as to provide schools with more

8 scope for extended schools activities and community access. The proposals for 11 primary school expansions presented to Cabinet on 8 September, have all been designed so as to be able to revert to extended or community use if pupil numbers reduce in future years.

4.18 The strategy for replacing school places in the secondary system following the closure of Abbeydale Grange has been presented and agreed by the Cabinet on 24 th of November .The strategy is based on schools operating with an increased number of places as well as with wider community engagement. Where extension plans are developed they will include a range of spaces (including performing arts spaces, wider family services and better use of outdoor space) so as to enhance the ability of the school to function as a community hub.

Organisational Development

4.19 Organisational moves to amalgamate Client Support and Project Management teams from Children Young People Service (CYPS) , Communities and Place into one Service by 1 October will enable much more integrated planning of school and other capital funding streams to meet the needs of localities and better join-up of cross Council capital planning with Community Assemblies.

4.20 Consultation has taken place and it has been agreed to centralise the capital delivery and asset management function within the Council into one Unit. This includes project and programme managers, architects, quantity surveyors and other design professionals. In light of the complexity of work required to be undertaken it has been agreed that an effective single management structure should be based on an evolutionary three stage approach. Stage one where a Capital Delivery Unit is established in Place, stage 2 will be consideration of the review of Design and Project Management and stage three where there is another review in October 2011 and the amalgamation with Corporate Property will depend upon the outcome at that time.

4.21 Coordinating and integration of capital delivery function will have a number of benefits for the council and some of these benefits are listed below:

• Join up Council-wide capital programme planning on the locality basis to maximise the value for money and impact on the communities, public buildings and other infrastructure.

• Ensuring that there is effective Council-wide liaison between all capital delivery projects to seek wherever possible co-location with other services thereby saving the revenue and capital costs.

• Lead to efficiencies being made, retention of staff and provide /improve asset management, contract management and capital programme delivery across the Council’s business.

9 • Ensure that officers engaged in the areas of work share the skills and expertise and have opportunities for continuous professional development.

• Continue to meet the Council’s statutory duty to provide sufficient places for childcare and education for 0-19 year olds and to provide healthy and safe places for children to learn and staff to work.

• Continue to support the Council’s priority to raise attainment by providing good quality places for learning and making progress on the implementation of “wider community use of school sites” policy.

4.22 The Director of Regeneration in Place is now a full member of the Building School for Future Strategic Board and CYPS Capital Commissioning Group. The remit of these groups is to oversee the development and delivery of all capital programmes across CYPS. The Director of Property & Facilities Management or his designee will be invited to join CYPS Capital Commissioning Group to further strengthen integrated working across portfolios.

5. Plans for next six months

5.1. In order to take the Council’s wider community use of schools policy to the next level, there are a number of developments that need to happen. These include:

• providing the stimulation and support for governing bodies to enhance the existing levels of community access and activities on school sites;

• securing a common strategic objective about wider community access with all schools including academies and those with PFI agreements;

• harnessing the role of the community assemblies in identifying and communicating the needs and aspirations of the local community; and

• developing a common Council-wide approach to how Council assets and facilities are best utilised to achieve wider community access as well as greater efficiency and value.

• receive an update and an action plan in March demonstrating progress implementing this policy.

A short overview of each of these is given below:

Schools and Governing Bodies

10 5.2. Governing bodies of maintained schools were given powers in the Education Act 2002 to provide community facilities or services for the benefit of their pupils, families or members of the wider community. The Children Schools and Families Act 2010, enacted in April, gives governing bodies a new requirement to give consideration at least once in every school year as to whether to use these powers. The Act also allows governing bodies to spend their delegated budgets on the provision of those community facilities or services (subject to regulations).

5.3. In practice this means that the community use agenda is now being given greater exposure within the Governing Body’s decision-making process and allows for better consideration and development of the school’s strategy. Governors’ Section in Inclusion and Learning Services is now developing a package of support for governing bodies to help them structure and plan the way in which they may provide wider access to their buildings and facilities. This will include buildings, property, legal and financial aspects. The support will include:

• Consultancy support to initiate collaborative governance arrangements (Autumn/Spring 2010-11);

• A regular feature in Governing Bodies’ termly newsletter with recommendation that Community Use is a standing termly item for either the full governing body or a sub committee;

• Governor workshops on Community Use (1 central event and offer of customized Governing body training Spring/Summer 2011);

5.4. Linkages will also be made with the Extended Schools Team, with whom schools can plan for extending their offer of service.

5.5. We will be consulting on community use of the school site including the possibility of a community sports club to take over the playing fields and retaining a community sports centre on the main school site.

5.6. Consultations will also take place with the local community on the future use of Abbeydale Grange site including the importance of retaining community use of the sports pitches.

Academies

5.7. The provisions contained in the Children and Families Act 2010 only applies to maintained schools. Academies, as independent schools, are not legally bound by a requirement to consider how they may provide community facilities or services. Nevertheless, as in the Parkwood example above, Academies may be equally committed to extending the range of pupil, family and community support and services they provide and to enabling the community to gain access to and enjoy the benefit of the facilities they provide.

11 5.8. The Children and Young People’s Service works closely in partnership with all its schools irrespective of their governance arrangements. A strategic event this Autumn has started the renewal of that strategic partnership in the light of the government’s school reforms. A partnership forum with the three existing academies already exists and continues to facilitate collaboration on joint strategic objectives. As one of the Council’s key policy areas, wider community use of schools will be the subject of regular discussion at the Academies Partnership Forum and developed jointly with them.

Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Schools

5.9. Discussions are taking place to further engage the PFI Facilities Management Providers of our PFI schools (Interserve, MITIE, Kier and Vinci) to continue and develop further their commitment to community school policy. These discussions will focus on methods for increasing community use of PFI school facilities within the current contractual/legal/ financial framework, which are different for each of the four providers. In most cases, the existing arrangements already facilitate a considerable amount of community activity and recreation on school sites. Interserve now employs a Community Liaison Officer to develop activities in conjunction with the local feeder schools rather than simply renting out space. MITIE is working with Activity Sheffield to provide holiday activities for school age children throughout the year. Kier subcontracts its third party use through Sheffield International Venues which employs targets for the participation rates of different demographic groups. The first call on third party use at the three schools managed in the Vinci contract is with the Local Authority in order to encourage wider community use. In all cases, more can be done in partnership between the Council, the Governing Bodies and the providers to improve and extend these good practices.

Community Assemblies

5.10. Community Assemblies have a vital role to play in helping to articulate what members of the local community are seeking in terms of services and facilities, and what existing community groups are aspiring to achieve. Feeding this information back to schools will enable them to respond where possible within their powers or to plan to fulfil those needs in the future. Feedback to Children & Young Peoples Service will enable the capital strategy to take account of local needs and for specific capital investment schemes to be adapted where possible.

5.11. It is envisaged that this information will be obtained from the ongoing consultation and dialogue between the Community Assemblies and people in their local area and that this will identify particular aspirations from community groups for access to facilities or for services to be delivered via school sites. Discussions with Community Assembly Chairs and managers will be needed to pin down how this process of information gathering and feedback can be structured and managed.

12 5.12. There may be a demand for non-organised community access to school playing fields on a fairly ad-hoc basis. This demand will need to be articulated by the local community and access will need to be negotiated with governing bodies and community groups through local Councillors and respective Community Assembly. It needs to be acknowledged that such an approach will raise concerns around pupil safeguarding, security of the school premises and the approach to deal with these issues will vary between schools according to local circurmstances.

Developing a Council-wide approach

5.13. Although initially fostered within the Children and Young People’s Service, the policy has stakeholders right across the Council. A number of services are already working towards this policy objective or have the potential to. These include:

• Resources/Asset Management – where the key objective is to ensure that the Council’s property portfolio is efficiently managed and that existing assets are put to their full use. Resources functions as the landlord for the school estate and has the responsibility for managing the assets on behalf of the Council. Work is already underway to audit the range of buildings in the Children and Young People’s Service estate and identify the extent to which they are currently being used or have the potential to be used for wider community use.

• Communities/Regeneration – where the Community Buildings Team have already done work to assess the requirements of community groups around the city and are developing a strategy for the management of the community buildings estate in conjunction with asset management.

• Place/Housing and Regeneration – which has owned and developed the ‘thriving local district centres’ agenda which links closely to the planning and provision of community facilities.

• Place/Capital Delivery – which is in the process of bringing together all Council-wide capital delivery under one portfolio. This integration will enable integrated capital planning and delivery across all council services and will facilitate integrated capital planning with other public agencies e.g. health, police and transport.

• Children and Young People’s Service – which drives the vision of extended schools and wider community use as enabling families and young people to full-fill their full potential, and which supports schools and governing bodies to achieve this agenda.

5.14. In order to bring these strands of work together in common purpose, it is proposed that a Council-wide Project is established, and co-sponsored by

13 the Director of Property & Facilities Management Services and the Director of Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership. The project will establish a common set of deliverables in agreement with Cabinet and Executive Management Team and set out a series of steps to progressing the policy as a Council-wide approach. An overarching Council-wide governance structure will also enable systematic sharing of cross portfolio capital planning information to improve our decision making.

6. IMPLICATIONS

Legal

6.1. The power to provide community use of schools sites, following consultation is outlined in sections 27 and 28 of the Education Act 2002. These sections state that governing bodies of maintained schools can provide community facilities for the benefit of families of pupils at the school, or people who work in the locality in which the school is situated.

Financial

6.2. No Financial implications to be noted at this stage. Specific proposal will only be taken forward once the financial implications have been considered and finalised.

6.3. Section 4 of Part 1 of the 2010 Act provides that where a governing body spends funding on providing community facilities or services; it can now treat the spend as being for the "purposes of the school", subject to financial regulations. This removes the restriction that previously stopped governing bodies from using school budget (apart from the standards grant) to support community focused activities.

Human Resources

6.4. There are no human resource implications to be noted at this stage.

Equality of Opportunity

6.5. Co-location of broader community services will allow universal access to the local communities. This will not have a negative impact on any particular group, and could enhance community cohesion.

7. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

7.1. This paper is an update on the previous commitment by the Cabinet for schools and community building to be at the heart of communities offering wider community services. While alternative delivery models for specific proposals will be considered as the vision is implemented, no alternative consideration is required to revise the policy or strategy framework at this stage.

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8. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1. Schools and Community Buildings at the centre of community engagement supported by multi agency teams will not only engage delivery of a better life for children and young people but will also support development of stronger and cohesive communities. Schools will be able to provide and host a range of services and activities beyond the school day.

9. RECOMMENDATIONS

9.1. To inform Cabinet of the progress so far in implementation of “Our Schools as Community Hubs” vision for all schools and community buildings to be at the heart of their communities offering wider community services.

9.2. To agree to set-up a council wide governance framework co-chaired by Director of Property & Facilities Management Services and Director of Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership to oversee development and delivery of this policy.

9.3. To receive an update and an action plan in March 2011 to demonstrate the progress in implementing this policy.

Sonia Sharp Executive Director CYPS November 2010

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