Page 1 Cabinet: 22 March 2011 Report on the Outcomes of The
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Cabinet: 22nd March 2011 Report on the outcomes of the statutory consultation on the proposal to raise the upper age limit of Netherhall Learning Campus High School from September 2011 to accommodate post-16 provision in the Kirklees Creative and Media Studio School. Is it likely to result in spending or saving The outcome is intended to have an impact £250k or more, or to have a significant on the provision for students across effect on two or more electoral wards? Kirklees. Is it in the Forward Plan? Yes Is it eligible for call in by Scrutiny? Yes Cabinet member portfolio Children and Young People Cllr Cath Harris and Cllr Ken Smith Electoral wards affected and ward councillors consulted: All Public or private: Public 1. Purpose of report a) To report the outcomes of the statutory consultation on the proposal to raise the upper age limit of Netherhall Learning Campus High School from age 16 to age 19 from September 2011 to accommodate post-16 provision in the Kirklees Creative and Media Studio School. b) To seek Cabinet approval for the proposed next steps and timescales to make changes to Netherhall Learning Campus High School through the publication of a statutory notice and a statutory proposal. page 1 CONTENTS Section 1: Purpose of report page 1 Section 2: Background page 3 Section 3: Statutory processes page 4 Section 4: Implications for the Council page 14 Section 5: Consultees and their opinions page 14 Section 6: Next Steps and Indicative Timescale page 14 Section 7: Officer Recommendations page 15 Section 8: Portfolio holder recommendations page 15 Section 9: Contact Officers page 16 List of supporting documents page 16 Appendix A: Consultation document page 17 Appendix B: Consultation document distribution list page 23 Appendix C: Equalities Impact Assessment page 25 page 2 2. Background and Consultation 2.1 Background Information on Studio School The Studio School concept was first initiated by the Young Foundation in 2006 as an innovative approach to the delivery of 14-19 education for up to 300 learners. A Studio School is built around a strong working partnership between school(s) and a range of industrial / commercial partners. There is an emphasis on a new approach to delivering the curriculum, although Studio Schools cannot bypass or ignore National Curriculum requirements. The Government announced in November 2009 support for a series of studio schools across the country. The first two will be in Luton and Kirklees and a further five schools have been approved; in Blackpool, Oldham, South Tyneside, Lambeth and Newham. Each of these schemes is taking a different approach to developing the studio school concept. With the local development of the Creative and Media sector, a result of the Creative Town Initiative, and the potential links with the Media Centre, Huddersfield University and the Textile Centre of Excellence it was considered appropriate to take forward the Creative and Media sector focus as one that clearly had potential to flourish in Kirklees. The involvement of employers and creative/media businesses in Kirklees in the development of the Kirklees Studio School is a major strength of the proposal. For over two years a group of local employers, business organisations, and other partners have been meeting regularly, planning for the interim pilot (launched in September 2008) and developing the proposal for the full-fledged Studio School in Kirklees. The Kirklees studio school model was developed with the support of these partners: • Kirklees Council Children and Young People (Learning), Culture & Leisure, Regeneration and Economic Development Services • Netherhall Learning Campus • The Media Centre • University of Huddersfield • Kirklees College • Textile Centre of Excellence • Compact Education Business Services • The Young Foundation (now the Studio Schools Trust) • Employers Group, MDs of six Creative & Media businesses • Barry Sheerman MP and local Councillors. The partners believe strongly that the Kirklees Studio School would make a real difference to the lives of young people, families and employers across Kirklees and would play an important role in raising aspiration and equipping young people with the skills and experience they need to succeed. The Studio School will offer a range of key academic and vocational qualifications with the Creative & Media Diploma at Level 2 with progression to Level 3 being at the heart of the school‟s curriculum offer. The learning will be more relevant and contextualised, with a greater focus on local businesses and the skills needed by young people. This will allow students to develop important employability skills like teamwork, initiative and critical thinking, whilst also gaining the key qualifications they need to progress. The Studio School is located at Netherhall Learning Campus and is a facility which will be accessible for all Kirklees young people The Studio School will provide 300 places for students of all abilities aged 14-19; 120 places for 14-16 year olds and 180 places for 16- 18 year olds. The Studio School has Creative and Media as its specialism and will page 3 commence operation as an extended pilot focussed on Netherhall learners in September 2010. It is then anticipated that students will be admitted on a phased basis with two main points of entry at 14 and 16. Potential students should have a strong interest in Creative & Media based education and training, a commitment to a vocational & practical curriculum and a capacity to gain Level 2. The scheme has attracted a capital budget allocation of £4 million and initial revenue funding subject to further discussion with DfE. 3 Statutory Processes On 11th May 2010 cabinet approved the establishment of the Creative and Media School on the Netherhall Campus the need to propose the establishment of post 16 provision as an integral part of the Kirklees Studio School model for 14-19 education and that this be dedicated Creative and Media Diploma provision and not constitute general sixth form provision. that Officers start the statutory process to facilitate the establishment of post 16 provision at the Kirklees Studio School by carrying out the necessary 6 week statutory consultation process and reporting the outcomes of consultation back to Cabinet for approval to proceed further with the statutory process 3.1Statutory Consultation A six week statutory consultation took place between 10th January and 18th February 2011 to seek the views of parents/carers, staff, governors, pupils, the local community and other stakeholders about the proposal to establish provision for 16-19 year olds at The Kirklees Creative and Media Studio School, Netherhall Learning Campus High School by raising the upper age limit from 16 to 19 years from 1st September 2011 3.2 Consultation Methodology 3.2.1 Reference DfE Guidance – Making Changes to a Maintained Mainstream School (Other than Expansion, Foundation, Discontinuance & Establishment Proposals) A consultation document (attached as Appendix A) was written and produced with due regard to the published DfE Guidance listed above. The consultation document was prefaced with a foreword from the lead members for Children and Young People. The document had a comprehensive feedback form that was developed in consultation with the Council‟s Corporate Research and Consultation Team. The form asked for views about how the proposals may affect various aspects of the school e.g. quality of education and standards, and how far people supported or opposed the proposals. In addition, there was the opportunity for respondents to write down any additional comments about the proposals. 3.2.2 Distribution Consultation documents were distributed to over 5700 stakeholders, including over 4500 to families of pupils in year 11 throughout Kirklees as well as 390 documents distributed to the staff and pupils at Netherhall Learning Campus High School. Documents were also sent to the head teacher and the chair of governors at all Kirklees schools as well as to trade unions, faith groups, neighbouring Local Authorities, schools out of authority within a 3 mile radius, elected Members, MP‟s, community centres, early years units and libraries. page 4 Throughout the consultation period further opinions and questions were recorded via a dedicated e-mail address ([email protected]), by a freepost address and via telephone (01484 225014). Consultation documents and response sheets were available online at www.studio-school.co.uk. The consultation document was made available on the Council‟s website, at the open days (see below) and by request. A complete list of distribution is attached at Appendix B. Forms could be completed on paper or electronically on the Studio School website. In addition individuals were encouraged to feedback any additional views either via email or letter. A „Freepost‟ address was available for returning paper forms and/or letters to maximise the opportunities for receiving feedback to the proposals. 3.2.3 Opportunities for clarification and gathering further information Open days were held at the school on Thursday 20 January 2011 and Monday 31 January 2011and these were publicised in the consultation document. The open days were not dedicated consultation events but they gave an opportunity for interested parties to ask questions and raise individual concerns. 40 people attended the open days. List of Open Day Sessions Date Venue Time Thursday 20 January The Kirklees Creative and 12.00 noon to 2011 Media Studio School, Netherhall 7.00pm Monday 31 January Learning Campus High School, 12.00 noon to 2011 7.00pm 3.3 Responses to Consultation Petitions: No petitions were received Deputations: No deputations were received Responses: Total number of responses 111 Type of response Response sheet: 80 E-mail: 1 Web feedback: 30 Responses by Stakeholder* Parent/Carers: 40 Pupils: 3 Staff: 50 Governor: 9 Resident: 15 Local Community Representative: 8 * Some respondents declared themselves as multiple stakeholders The majority of stakeholders responding to the consultation were staff (40%), 32% were parent/carers, 12% were residents, 8% governors, 2% were pupils and 6% were local community representatives.