Community Use of School Premises
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Community use of School Premises Report of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel June 2008 Final – Version 3 Page 1 CONTENTS 1 Why Members wanted to look at this Issue................................................. 3 1.1 Corporate Plan...................................................................................... 3 1.2 Community Strategy 2005-2010 ........................................................... 3 1.3 Local Strategic Partnership................................................................... 3 1.4 Terms of Reference .............................................................................. 4 1.5 Methodology ......................................................................................... 4 2 Overview of Policy Framework..................................................................... 5 2.1 National Level ....................................................................................... 5 2.2 Local Level.......................................................................................... 11 3 Summary of Findings.................................................................................. 15 4 Background.................................................................................................. 18 4.1 Private Finance Initiative – Transform Schools................................... 18 4.2 Building Learning Communities Limited (BLCL) ................................. 19 4.3 Local Schools ..................................................................................... 23 4.4 The Role of External Sport Providers ................................................. 36 5 Recommendations ...................................................................................... 39 5.1 Good Practice..................................................................................... 39 5.2 Caretaking and Security...................................................................... 39 5.3 BLCL................................................................................................... 40 5.4 BSF Programme ................................................................................. 40 6 Thanks.......................................................................................................... 41 6.1 RMBC Officers.................................................................................... 41 7 Appendices .................................................................................................. 42 7.1 APPENDIX 1....................................................................................... 42 7.2 APPENDIX 2....................................................................................... 42 7.3 APPENDIX 3....................................................................................... 42 7.4 APPENDIX 4....................................................................................... 45 7.5 APPENDIX 5....................................................................................... 47 7.6 APPENDIX 6....................................................................................... 47 Final – Version 3 Page 2 1 WHY MEMBERS WANTED TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE Over the past five years, an extensive programme of capital investment into Rotherham’s schools infrastructure has been undertaken through a Private Finance Initiative. These projects are underpinned by the principle of communities utilising school premises as a resource for learning and physical activity. Likewise, many other non PFI schools in Rotherham, also encourage the use of their facilities for community activity, learning and wider sports provision In view of the devolved management of our schools, particularly those built via the PFI route, along with the introduction of the Governments Extended Services Initiative which proposes the use of school premises as a focal point for community activity, Members of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel wanted to examine to what extent communities are able to access school premises and what if any, are the barriers to doing so. 1.1 Corporate Plan This review embraces the ‘Rotherham Learning Theme’ through the Councils vision to provide accessible learning and development opportunities for all; in addition to Rotherham Alive Theme’, where people will have opportunities to be involved in a wide range of high quality cultural, social and sporting activities. 1.2 Community Strategy 2005-2010 This scrutiny review supports the Community Strategy’s themes of Learning and Fairness. The Strategy aims to encourage more local people to become involved in learning and support parents, schools and communities to raise aspirations; the Strategy also aims to make services accessible to all communities and neighbourhoods. 1.3 Local Strategic Partnership 1.3.1 Rotherham’s Lifelong Learning Partnership identifies that Adult Learning and Skills underpins every aspect of community and neighbourhood renewal and is one of the central themes of the Community Strategy above. The Strategy sets the priorities for activities for the next 5 years that will contribute to achieving the vision of economic and social prosperity for Rotherham. 1.3.2 The Partnership’s Learning Thematic Action Plan identifies the progression of the extended schools agenda and the development of schools as community facilities, as key Partnership priorities in ‘supporting parents, schools, colleges and communities to raise aspirations and educational and learning achievement levels’. Final – Version 3 Page 3 1.4 Terms of Reference The Review Group identified the aims and objectives of the review at the outset and set the terms of reference as follows: To identify the approach of schools within the Borough with regard to the current use of learning and sports facilities by local communities and assess how schools accommodate these activities; can schools make further use of their school premises and what are the barriers to doing so? The review group also examined the financial and management implications for schools with regard to increasing community use, which is being promoted through the Governments Extended Services prospectus and the Building Schools for the Future programme. 1.5 Methodology The review was commissioned by the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel at their meeting held in June 07. A later scoping meeting was held, where it was agreed that interviews and school visits would take place during Autumn/Winter 07. As part of the methodology, the review group visited a number of schools agreeing to take part in the review, to discuss the issues around community use with Head Teachers and support staff. We also viewed a range of facilities in these schools that are available to communities and were also to see areas of school buildings that were considered not suitable for public use. Photographs were taken to assist the reader with some of the discussion reflected in the report. 1.5.1 The scope of the review included: Looking at existing school facilities; Current opening hours and availability of facilities; The Governments Extended Services Initiative Examination of funding sources related to the use of school premises; PFI Schools; Barriers to the use of school premises; Exploring issues relating to health and safety, caretaking, security, insurance and damage to premises; External sports providers; Perceived community demand for ICT, sports and arts facilities and adult learning; Neighbourhood Management and Extended Schools Services. 1.5.2 The following panel members comprised the review group: Councillor Jahangir Akhtar (in the Chair) Councillor Alan Atkin Councillor Jenny Whysall Councillor John Doyle Mick Hall – parent/governor co-optee - Children & Young Peoples Scrutiny Panel Final – Version 3 Page 4 1.5.3 During the course of the review we visited the following schools and spoke to Head Teachers: Wales Primary Schools: Head Teacher Jackie Ryan Meadow View Primary School PFI: Head Teacher Tony French Aston Church of England Junior & Infant: Sue Mellor St Bernards Catholic High School: Headteacher – David Butler Rawmarsh Community School: Deputy Headteacher – Lesley Hutt & Rachel Mullins Swinton Community School: David Shevill & Rachel Denton 1.5.4 We interviewed a range of officers from within the Council from Children & Young Peoples Services & EDS, in addition to the Cabinet Members for Children & Young People Services & Lifelong Learning. 1.5.5 External sports providers were also interviewed and they provided an interesting perspective on the way in which school premises can be utilised for the benefit of pupils and the wider community. 2 OVERVIEW OF POLICY FRAMEWORK 2.1 National Level Nationally, a number of converging agendas promoting the use of school premises as a community resource for family and adult learning and physical activities. Broadly, the common factors that link Government legislation and policy in this arena relate to the education, health and well being of children, their families and the wider community with the objective of promoting social inclusion and neighbourhood renewal. 2.1.1 Education Act 2002 The Act requires schools to consult widely before providing extended school services. As a minimum, schools must consult parents of children registered at the school, the children and young people themselves, the staff and their local authority. “Consultation should extend to people who live and work within the school’s local community, even if they do not have children at the school. Their involvement can ensure that the benefits of the extended