Brighter Futures for Our Children and Young People
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A4 Liversedge doc:Brighter future A4 1/9/08 13:29 Page 2 Brighter futures for our children and young people Heckmondwike, Liversedge, Mirfield & Ravensthorpe A consultation on the future of secondary education A4 Liversedge doc:Brighter future A4 1/9/08 13:29 Page 3 We want to make every local school an excellent school ‘Brighter futures - for our children and young people’ is the biggest ever investment in education in Kirklees. Over £500 million will be invested to radically improve opportunities for today’s children and young people and generations to come. This booklet describes proposals to change secondary schools in the Heckmondwike, Liversedge, Mirfield and Ravensthorpe area and is part of the wider plans for North Kirklees. Should changes be agreed, the earliest year for implementing the plans will be 2011. Where we are now • We need more school places to support • Standards in schools are rising but not fast economic growth and population shifts in enough and we need to do even better. We Kirklees. want all our schools to meet the government’s skill challenge of 2020, • We have too many schools that are not full. raising levels of attainment in GCSE, We need to make a better and fairer use of A-Level, Degree, and vocational courses. resources. • We have too many 16 to19 year olds not in • We need better facilities to help our education, employment or training. We committed and passionate teachers and need to offer more opportunities for young school staff do their job. people to make positive choices for a brighter future. We want an excellent local school for everyone in North Kirklees, no matter where you live. We want to make the most of this major investment by redeveloping carefully chosen existing sites. To achieve a new pattern of centres for learning across North Kirklees we need to establish new schools, make changes to some existing schools and close others. We are proposing to establish secondary schools with a minimum of 1200 places to deliver a wider range of academic and vocational subjects and courses to engage and motivate all children and young people to achieve their best, and to better focus resources on learning and teaching. Why not watch our dvd to find out more. We want you to have your say, and you will find details of our consultation events on the back page so please come along. You can also take part online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/brighter We can only make this new investment with your support. Join us in creating a brighter future for everyone. 1 • Brighter futures A4 Liversedge doc:Brighter future A4 1/9/08 13:29 Page 4 Brighter futures for our children and young people Proposed secondary centres for learning and admission areas Proposed Secondary Admission Areas Colours and numbers relate to the following proposals and supporting consultation documents Brighter futures • 2 A4 Liversedge doc:Brighter future A4 1/9/08 13:29 Page 5 7 Proposal Develop Spen Valley Sports College as a co-educational centre for learning for 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 from 1st September 2014. What would this mean? Kirklees Council proposes to make prescribed alterations to Spen Valley Sports College from 1st September 2014 to: • Enlarge the size of the school from 900 to 1200 pupil places • Increase the annual admission number from 180 to 240 The staff and governors at Spen Valley Sports Your questions College are committed to giving pupils a good education, however standards are below both answered the Kirklees and national average. In 2007, 43% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at Who could go to Spen Valley Sports Grade C or above compared with the Kirklees College? average of 55% and the national average of Priority would be given to pupils who live in 61%. the priority admission areas of the primary schools below. We know that young people want a wider choice of learning options to motivate them • Cawley Lane J, I & N School and develop their talents, interests and • Hartshead J & I School aspirations. We need larger secondary • Headlands CE(C) J, I & N School schools to deliver a breadth of academic and • Leeside Community Primary School vocational subjects and courses. • Littletown J, I & N School • Millbridge J, I & N School We also want to see schools working closer • Norristhorpe J & I School together than ever before sharing best • Roberttown CE(C) J & I School practice. We want to explore new ways of working together such as ‘federations’ and If you have any questions regarding priority ‘trusts’. admission areas please contact Kirklees Council School Organisation and Planning What would the admission Team on 01484 225014. arrangements be? The admissions criteria will continue to Spen Valley Sports College would continue to comply with Kirklees Council’s admissions be fully inclusive, and provide for pupils with policy for community schools. The first year special education needs in line with all other for the increased admission number to year 7 schools in Kirklees. at Spen Valley Sports College would be 2014 Do we need to change? Admission arrangements would be published YES. Spen Valley Sports College is a co- in the Kirklees Council’s publication ‘Guide educational secondary school for 900 pupils for Parents: Secondary Schools in Kirklees’. aged 11 to16 years. The school is rated by This is sent to families of year 6 pupils every Ofsted as ‘satisfactory overall with good September. Applications for online features.’ admissions would reflect the same arrangements. 3 • Brighter futures A4 Liversedge doc:Brighter future A4 1/9/08 13:29 Page 6 How would the building change? Would Spen Valley Sports College All proposed schools will receive investment retain its specialism? in their buildings and facilities through YES. Spen Valley Sports College will retain ‘Brighter futures for our children and young its Sports specialism. There would be people’. Significant remodelling of the opportunities to build on this by linking into current building would be made to develop vocational qualifications and diplomas. and improve facilities at the school and create stimulating learning environments. What about the staff at Spen Valley Sports College? When would the changes start? Our proposals not only provide new Construction work would begin from May / opportunities for our children and young June 2013 and would run until July 2014. In people, but also for those who lead, teach September 2014 the enlarged Spen Valley and support them. Sports College would admit up to 240 pupils in Year 7. We are proposing to enlarge Spen Valley Sports College which will create new What about sixth forms? opportunities for staff. We want to build on existing excellence and strengthen 16 to 19 education by consolidating all school sixth forms at Heckmondwike Grammar School and The Mirfield Free Grammar, creating 1400 places open to all students from across North Kirklees. This will enhance the range of academic and vocational choices available in North Kirklees. This proposal is described in more detail on page 12. Pupils from Spen Valley Sports College would be able to apply for places at the North Kirklees sixth form. Brighter futures • 4 A4 Liversedge doc:Brighter future A4 1/9/08 13:29 Page 7 8 Proposal Develop The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form as a co-educational centre for learning for 1500, 11 to 16 year olds and 500, 16 to 19 students from 1st September 2013. What would this mean? Kirklees Council proposes to make prescribed alterations to The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form from 1st September 2013 to: • Enlarge the size of the school from 1090 to 1500 pupil places for 11 to 16 year olds • Enlarge the size of the school from 270 to 500 places for 16 to 19 year olds • Increase the annual admission number from 218 to 300 and: Kirklees Council proposes to close Castle Hall School and Specialist Language College on the 31st August 2013. Do we need to change? Your questions YES. ‘Brighter Futures for our children and young people’ aims to raise standards and answered develop schools and centres for learning for their community. We want an excellent local Who could go to The Mirfield Free school for everyone in North Kirklees, Grammar and Sixth Form? however just under half of the current Priority would be given to pupils who live in students at Castle Hall School and Specialist the priority admission areas of the primary Language College and The Mirfield Free schools below. Grammar and Sixth Form live in the Mirfield area. The remainder of pupils travel to both • Battyeford CE (C) Primary School schools from other areas, mainly in North • Crossley Fields J & I School Kirklees. • Crowlees CE (C) J & I School • Hopton Primary School We anticipate that this pattern of admission is • Old Bank J, I & N School unlikely to continue as parents will want to • Ravensthorpe I & N School select the school closest to where they live. • Ravensthorpe CE (C) Junior School ‘Brighter Futures for our children and young If you have any questions regarding priority people’ aims to radically improve admission areas please contact Kirklees opportunities not only for today’s children but Council School Organisation and Planning for generations to come. An analysis of the Team on 01484 225014. number of births and the number of children in the school system shows that the demand The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form for school places in Mirfield will decline in would continue to be fully inclusive, and the future. For example, in the school year provide for pupils with special education 2007/08 there were around 1000*, 11 to 16 needs in line with all other schools in year old children living in Mirfield, however Kirklees.