Agenda Item Number 5

Children and Young People’s Services Select Committee

27 November 2013

Planning Schools for the Future

Report by: Director Communities Commissioning and Head of Capital and Infrastructure

Executive Summary:

The County Council has approved a capital allocation in support of changes to the age of transfer in Worthing and the prescribed consultation process is now underway. A Cabinet Member Decision Report will be required in January 2014 which will decide on whether to progress to the next stage which is the Publication of Statutory Notices.

Recommendation:

The Committee is asked to support the proposals for reorganisation of schools within Worthing, subject to the outcome of the consultation, to enable the Age of Transfer to change, to bring these schools into line with the policy of the County Council.

1. Background

1.1 Reviewing areas of non-standard transfers between schools has been a priority for the County Council since its Ofsted inspection in 2001. Effective reviews and subsequent reorganisations have been undertaken in Crawley, Adur (Shoreham and Lancing) and the rural areas of the Rother Valley. Worthing remains the largest area requiring reorganisation in and is experiencing significant population growth. An additional 1606 pupils are expected in Worthing schools over the period 2011/16. The County Council has not previously been able to bring forward a proposal to change the Age of Transfer in Worthing as there has been, until now, no additional capital funding and no additional site for a secondary school to deliver such a change. A bid to change the Age of Transfer under the Buildings Schools for the Future Programme was not prioritised by the last government.

1.2 There is convincing evidence, both locally and nationally, that minimising the number of transfers in the school career of pupils leads to better attainment and outcomes. In Crawley the Age of Transfer (AoT) changed in 2004 and a two-tier system replaced a three-tier pattern with the effect that performance levels in Key Stage 3 and 4 improved significantly. The funding and time constraints mean that change in the primary sector will not involve amalgamations and the proposals involve the establishment of a number of infant and junior schools. Governors and headteachers have Agenda Item Number 5

supported the concept of phased change, thereby allowing the move to more all -through primary schools when the opportunity arises in the future.

2. Proposals

2.1 This is an appropriate time to undertake a review of the AoT of pupils and introduce a 2-tier system to replace the existing 3-tier arrangement and bring Worthing into line with the majority of the rest of the County and country. There has been significant local support from Worthing headteachers, governors, (WBC), Northbrook College and local MPs. Superficial testing by WBC has also indicated there is interest and support from the Worthing population.

2.2 The target date for implementing a change in the AoT is September 2015. This date is conditional on the necessary consultation process being successfully undertaken no later than the Autumn & Spring Terms 2013/14. If consultation can be completed by March 2014 the preparations and delivery of the essential capital projects required for meeting the September 2015 implementation date is achievable.

2.3 A critical element of the proposals is the provision of a sixth ‘secondary school’ in Worthing. The restricted sites of existing schools and the growth in numbers, together with Year 7 moving to secondary school, makes an additional school essential. A time limited opportunity to provide a site is now available on the Northbrook Further Education (FE) College site, but only until April 2014. There are complex issues associated with the availability of this site and the availability could be compromised if plans are not in place by April 2014 and it is unlikely that an alternative site will be found. The College would welcome collaboration to form a new school adjacent to its own operation where a curriculum could be developed which would blend with existing provision at the College.

2.4 In essence the proposals would create a pattern of primary schools (including some infant and junior schools) for the 4-11 age range and secondary schools for the 11-16 age group including a new academy on Northbrook College (Broadwater site). This site is the only one available currently for an additional secondary school due to land availability in Worthing. The introduction of this new system would necessarily require it to be a single event timed for September 2015, but the impact from the additional pupils moving into secondary schools means that the capital investment could be phased over a longer period.

2.5 This is a key time to act to gain the greatest range of benefits from capital investment, which include:

i) Coordinating educational development with Northbrook FE College to facilitate a new secondary school/academy on a part of the College site. This is a time limited opportunity which is conditional on Northbrook being able to progress their next phase of development on the Broadwater site. Agenda Item Number 5

ii) Progressing agreed proposals to allow a two-tier pattern of education in the town from September 2015 that is known to enhance pupil progress. iii) Supporting a widely agreed local demand for a standard pattern of school transfers to meet the aims of the local community. iv) Investing capital resources in accordance with the need to provide additional places. v) Ensuring sufficient places are available in time and making maximum use of existing restricted site capacities. vi) A pragmatic solution which minimises disruption to children and their families during the period of change whilst reducing potential costs associated with temporary building programmes. vii) Providing local school places where required and allowing an offer of a primary school place within walking distance of home to all Worthing children. viii) Support for schools’ revenue budgets through the establishing of robust and viable schools and academies.

3. Alternative Options

3.1 Failure to change the Age of Transfer would still mean that there is a need to invest in additional places for demographic growth and would potentially involve investment into an unsustainable system. There would be a need to review capital allocations with the DfE.

3.2 It is possible that alternative proposals to accommodate the Age of Transfer may emerge on a school-by-school basis during the course of the current consultation. Each proposal will be considered on its merits by the Cabinet Member.

4. Consultation

4.1 The consultation commenced on the 11 November 2013 and ends on the 23 December 2013 and is based on educational principles and the benefits of changing the ages at which pupils move between schools. The consultation will also indicate the detailed proposals for each Worthing school.

4.2 Following the consultation the Cabinet Member for Children – Start of Life will decide whether to proceed to publish Statutory Notices which will be a further 6 week period of consultation. In making this decision the Cabinet Member will consider whether any of the proposals should be amended in the light of the initial consultation phase.

4.3 The current consultation is an open invitation for comments from all members of the public. Public meetings have been held at 16 school venues, the consultation document has been widely circulated through schools, Children & Family Centres, Libraries, pre-school providers and other community venues. Separate meetings are being held for staff and school governors. A briefing paper and the consultation document have been sent to the 2 Worthing MPs, Local Councillors, Cabinet Member Children-Start of Life, and the teaching associations and unions. Agenda Item Number 5

4.4 Worthing Borough Council has also explored the interest for a new school pattern in Worthing and established a Joint Overview Scrutiny Committee to examine the position including a survey of schools and parents.

4.5 Sir Peter Bottomley and Tim Loughton as local MPs have been briefed and are supportive of a review. Their support was significant for the funding secured for additional school places in Worthing.

5. Equality

5.1 Worthing secondary schools include single sex education at Davison High School for Girls and St Andrews CofE High School for Boys. The proposals retain these schools as single sex establishments but reduce the disparity on the number of places currently on offer.

5.2 The existing Roman Catholic schools in the locality are unaffected by the proposals because they already operate on the 2-tier system, the subject of this consultation. The proposals for the schools reflect the demand and population increase in the area.

6. Resource Implications & Value for Money

6.1 Outline proposals have been the subject of high level feasibility studies which have included general cost information and have confirmed that the proposals can be delivered at a cost of approximately £30m.

6.2 The County Council has been successful in its bid to the DfE for capital resources to provide additional secondary school places in Worthing at , Davison High School for Girls and a new Academy. In total this bid is worth nearly £20m. Therefore the County Council is adding £10m of its own funding to provide an overall total of £30m for this scheme.

7. Risks and Issues

7.1 The key issues for reviewing the AoT in Worthing involve funding, timescales and working with a new sponsor to establish the new academy for September 2015.

7.2 There is an opportunity to use Government grant to provide secondary school places in the context of changing the AoT in Worthing. Additional places will be required over time but the timescales associated with the grant funding will require an efficient procurement process. Northbrook College have now confirmed that they have secured grant to progress their next phase of development and negotiations on purchasing the required site are now taking place. Planning approval on a site already used for educational purposes will be required. Whilst the timescales are tight they are achievable.

Agenda Item Number 5

7.3 The funding allocation for the new 900 place academy is significantly less than the sums spent to provide new academies at Shoreham, Lancing, Midhurst and Littlehampton. However, the DfE and independent consultants are confident that developments in procurement, design and construction should allow the new school to be built to reflect modern curriculum requirements within the constraints of the funding available. The design and construction will reflect the available funding.

7.4 The overall project provides the opportunity to move towards a greater academy presence in Worthing in a way which could help build collaboration and partnerships across the schools and colleges of the town. Whilst there may be some dissent from those opposed to academies the move to academies by local education providers in a co-ordinated approach could gain greater support.

7.5 In addition to the £30m committed by the County Council, the Northbrook phase 3 project and proposed works at Worthing 6th Form College will mean the investment in Worthing could total over £50m which will demonstrate commitment and provide stimulus to the local economy as has been the case where major education projects have been undertaken such as the AoT change in Crawley.

7.6 The current system in Worthing creates a great deal of uncertainty for many parents and children, as there is a transfer process between infant and junior schools. The changes are likely to reduce this uncertainty as parents are more likely in the future to plan their child’s journey through primary education from 4 to 11. The County Council will be working with governing bodies to ensure that schools can offer as much flexibility as possible to reduce the number of circumstances during the transitional period that children are not able to attend the same school as their older siblings.

8. Crime & Disorder Act Implications

8.1 None

9. Human Rights Act Implications

9.1 None.

Sue Hawker Colin James Director Communities Commissioning Head of Capital & Infrastructure

Contact:

Peter Proudley – Principal Manager Capital Planning and Projects 033 022 23028

Background Papers None