Decision No: CAB0008-JULY02

This record relates to B1a on the agenda for the Decision-Making

RECORD OF EXECUTIVE DECISION

2nd July 2007

DECISION-MAKER: CABINET PORTFOLIO AREA: CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND LEARNING SUBJECT: LEARNING FUTURES: DETERMINATION OF STATUTORY PROPOSALS AUTHOR: Andrew Hind

THE DECISION Having read the report, including its recommendations and proposals, heard oral representations made at Cabinet and following consideration of all other relevant matters, the decision-maker made the following decision: - (i) To approve the closure of Millbrook Community School on 31st August 2008 (ii) To approve the closure of Oaklands Community School on 31st August 2008 (iii) To select Oasis Community Learning to set up a new school on the Oaklands site, with the Millbrook site retained as a temporary annexe, to open on 1st September 2008 after considering proposals from: • Oasis Community Learning to establish an Academy • Education Trust to establish a Trust School • United Learning Trust to establish an Academy (iv) To approve the proposals from Oasis Community Learning made under s.66 Education Act 2005 subject to the following modifications: a. that the site and buildings of Oaklands Community School be leased to the promoter of the New School West on a short term lease until long term plans for a new school building, whether on the Oaklands, Five Acre Field or any other appropriate site, are approved and that the land upon which the new building for New School West is constructed be leased for a period of 125 years when the site has been determined; b. that the site and buildings of Millbrook Community School be leased to the promoter of New School West until it is deemed by the Council, following consultation with the school, to be no longer required as an annexe. c. that part of the Five Acre Field is leased on a short term basis so as to provide playing field facilities for New School West until long term plans for the new school building are finalised.

1 d. that the promoter of the new school west be required to adopt the common admissions policy of Southampton City Council for a period of three years, commencing on 1st September 2008. (v) To approve the prescribed alteration (excepted expansion) of Redbridge Community school by way of an increase of 27 or more to the admission number so that from 1st September 2008 it admits up to 210 pupils to Year 7 in place of the current 180, which will result in an increase in its total capacity from 900 to 1050. (vi) To approve the closure of Grove Park Business and Enterprise College on 31st August 2008 (vii) To approve the closure of Woolston School Language College on 31st August 2008 (viii) To select Oasis Community Learning to set up a new school on the Grove Park site, with the Woolston site retained as a temporary annexe, to open on 1st September 2008 after considering proposals from: • CfBT Education Trust to set up a Trust School • Oasis Community Learning to establish an Academy • Southampton Education Trust to establish a Trust School, and • United Learning Trust to establish an Academy (ix) To approve the proposals received from Oasis Community Learning made under s.66 Education Act 2005 subject to the following modifications: a. that the site and buildings of Grove Park Business and Enterprise College be leased to the promoter of the New School East on a short term lease until long term plans for a new school building are approved; and that the Grove Park site then be leased to the promoter for a period of 125 years; b. that the site and buildings of Woolston School Language College be leased to the promoter of New School East until it is deemed by the Council following consultation with the school to be no longer required as an annexe c. that the promoter of the new school east be required to adopt the common admissions policy of Southampton City Council for a period of three years, commencing on 1st September 2008. (x) To approve the prescribed alteration to The Sholing Technology College by changing the character of the school from a single sex girls school to a mixed school by admitting both boys and girls to year 7 from 1st September 2008. (xi) To approve the non-statutory expansion of The Sholing Technology College so that from 1st September 2008 it admits up to 210 pupils to Year 7 in place of the current 190, which will result in an increase in its total capacity to 1050 from 950.

2 (xii) In order to give effect to the proposals at (x) to grant a Transitional Exemption Order in relation to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (the ‘SDA’) for a period of four years from the date of implementation of the proposals to allow for the change from single sex to co-educational to be phased as set out in the published proposals. (xiii) To request further investigation is conducted into the potential relocation of: • New School West to be part of the Five Acre Field site • Regents Park Community College to the St Mark’s CE Junior/ former Civil Service Sports Ground site • The Sholing Technology College to the building (assuming Itchen College plans for relocation are successful) And that a progress report on these investigations be brought to Cabinet by the end of December 2007. (xiv) To request officers to make a case to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for Southampton’s inclusion in the “Building Schools for the Futures” programme at the earliest possible date. (xv) To recommend to Full Council that the capital works outlined in paragraphs 74 - 95, and detailed in appendix 12, which are required to deliver the Learning Futures programme, in the sum of £5,530,025, be added to the Children’s Services & Learning Capital programme (xvi) To recommend to Full Council that it agrees the required funding contribution, in the sum of £3,410,025, funded from corporate resources, towards the total Learning Futures capital costs of £5,530,025. (xvii) To recommend to Full Council that the sum of £250,000, phased £100,000 in 2007/08, and £150,000 in 2008/09, be made available to fund the preparatory work necessary for Building Schools for the Future (BSF). If successful BSF could deliver approximately £250m of capital investment to renew provision in Southampton. The sum of £250,000 funding to be made available through a draw on reserves. (xviii) To recommend to Full Council that the Woolston Site be declared surplus to educational requirements, once it is no longer required as an annexe for the New School East. (xix) To note that the proposed Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at Grove Park is now on hold subject to further negotiations with the successful promoter and taking into account any requirements for a new build under Building Schools for the Future. (xx) To note the potential risk of repaying the Big Lottery Fund grant of £583,134 if the existing sports hall at Grove Park is demolished under Building Schools for the Future and not rebuilt as part of the design of a new school and to request that officers use their best endeavours in partnership with the promoter of the New School East to retain the sports hall as part of the design for the new school.

3 REASONS FOR THE DECISION 1. The decision was made following an extended period of pre-statutory and statutory consultation with a view to creating an arrangement of secondary schools in Southampton which will: • help to raise standards of achievement • improve staying on rates at 16 • retain more pupils within the city by providing good local schools which meet the needs of parents • remove surplus places which represent a poor use of resources • create the opportunity of establishing learning campuses bringing together a range of services for children and young people • prepare for investment to replace, renew and upgrade school buildings through Building Schools for the Future 2. Detailed reasons for the recommendations upon which the Cabinet had due regard were contained in Appendix 1 to the report to Cabinet(Technical appraisal of proposals for New School West and New Schools East and Linked proposals and other Matters to be considered by the decision maker in respect of the Learning Futures Secondary Education Review): The report and its appendices took into account the guidance set out in Appendix 2, the Department for Education and Skills document Establishing a New Maintained Mainstream School: A Guide for Local Authorities. 3. Cabinet’s view was that the report clearly identifies one bidder as having the strongest overall bid. After considering the report, and all other submissions, taking all relevant factors into account, especially Oasis’s submission concerning standards, curriculum and collaboration, special educational needs, community learning, extended school, needs of families and finance Cabinet concluded in favour of Oasis Community Learning.

DETAILS OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS 1. The option of not closing the existing schools, and therefore not establishing new schools was considered. This approach was advocated by a number of consultees. It could be argued that the potential disruption of major change could be avoided, and that less radical change could lead to more evolutionary changes to the current system. 2. This approach has been rejected as it would have the effect of leaving the underlying problems unaddressed which necessitated the review of secondary education in the city in the first place. It would mean that a further review would be required causing additional, prolonged uncertainty. It could leave some schools facing the prospect of un-viability as pupil numbers fall. It would not be a good basis for planning the redevelopment of school sites and buildings which will be possible through Building Schools for the Future.

4 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The decision-maker(s) did not declare a personal or prejudicial interest in the Matters set out in the report.

We certify that the decision this document records was made in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) () Regulations 2000 and is a true and accurate record of that decision.

Date: Decision Maker: 2nd July 2007

Proper Officer: Judy Cordell

SCRUTINY Note: This decision will come in to force at the expiry of 5 working days from the date of publication subject to any review under the Council’s Scrutiny ‘Call-In’ provisions.

Call-In Period Wednesday 4th July 2007 – Tuesday 10th July 2007

Date of Call-in: Thursday 19th July 2007

Call-in Procedure completed (if applicable)

Results of Call-in (if applicable)

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