To: COUNCILLOR DAVID SIMMONDS CABINET MEMBER FOR EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES c.c. All Members of Executive Scrutiny Committee Democratic c.c. Chairman of Education and Children’s Services Democratic Services Policy Overview Committee c.c. Chris Spencer, Corporate Director Location: 3E/05 c.c. Claire Alleguen, Education and Children’s Ext: 0692 Services DDI : 01895 250472 c.c. Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat My Ref: NJ Group Offices (inspection copy) Date: 1 September 2009 Decision Request Form INDIVIDUAL CABINET MEMBER STATUTORY NOTICES OF PROPOSALS TO ENABLE THE REORGANISATION FOR SOME SCHOOLS IN THE BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PROGRAMME Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet Member. I can confirm that the decision has been identified in the Forward Plan and it is therefore in order for you to make a decision. You should take a decision on or after Wednesday 9 September 2009 in order to meet Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. Please indicate your decision on the duplicate memo supplied, and return it to me when you have made your decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published. You may wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. If you do not wish to accept the officers recommendation and the reasons for it, you are urged to contact the Corporate Director before making this decision. Please note that your decision may be subject to call-in and will not therefore be implemented until 5 working days after it has been published. Regards NAV JOHAL Democratic Services Officer Title of Report: STATUTORY NOTICES OF PROPOSALS TO ENABLE THE REORGANISATION FOR SOME SCHOOLS IN THE BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PROGRAMME Decision made: Reasons for your decision : (e.g. as stated in report) Alternatives considered and rejected : (e.g. as stated in report) Signed ………………………………………………………Date…………………….. Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services STATUTORY NOTICES OF PROPOSALS TO ENABLE THE REORGANISATION FOR SOME SCHOOLS IN THE BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PROGRAMME Cabinet Member Councillor David Simmonds Cabinet Portfolio Education & Children's Services Officer Contact Claire Alleguen (7854) Papers with report Appendix A - Details of pre-statutory consultation Appendix B – Consultation cost breakdown Appendix C – Copy of consultation document – ‘Shaping your schools’ HEADLINE INFORMATION Purpose of report To seek permission to publish Statutory Notices containing proposals to allow reorganisational changes to some schools in the Building Schools for the 21st Century Programme based in the south of the borough. Contribution to our Development and improvement of education in our schools plans and strategies (Council Plan 2007/10) Financial The cost of the consultation and the publication of sample scheme Implications notices is £34,648.07 and is included within the current potential £200 million BS21 programme budget. Relevant Policy N/A Overview Committee Ward(s) affected All RECOMMENDATION That the Cabinet Member for Education and Childrens’ Services agrees to proceed with further consultation by publishing Statutory Notices with proposals to enable the reorganisation of some schools in the Building Schools for the 21st Century Programme from week commencing 7th September 2009. The reorganisational changes include: PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS Cabinet Member report 24 August 2009 Page 1 • Enlarging the premises of Abbotsfield School • Increasing admissions and enlarging the premises of Swakeleys School • Increasing admissions and enlarging the premises of Highfield Primary School • Amending the nature and admissions of the Special Resource Provision (SRP) at Mellow Lane School • Lowering the age range of admissions at Rosedale College • Enlarging the premises of Rosedale College • Increasing admissions and enlarging the premises of Bishopshalt School • Creating new Special Resource Provision at Harlington Community School • Extending the age range and enlarging the premises of Chantry School • Increasing admissions and enlarging the premises of Chantry School • Creating new SLCNUnit at Meadow School • Enlarging the premises of Moorcroft School • Increasing admissions at Moorcroft School INFORMATION Reasons for recommendation Initial pre-statutory consultation with key stakeholders both within and outside of the borough was conducted between 22nd June and 21st July 2009. This consultation attracted significant support for the programme overall, and for the proposals outlined in the consultation document entitled ‘Shaping your schools’. There were a number of points made by individual respondents all of which the LA believes can be adequately addressed and none are serious or strong enough to consider the withdrawal of any of the proposals. Alternative options considered / risk management The available options are to: • Proceed with further consultation through publication of relevant Statutory Notices. • Not to proceed with further consultation and withdraw the current proposals. This option is rejected because the local Authority believes that the proposals are strong and there is not a significant case to withdraw on the basis of feedback received from the pre- statutory consultation. 1.0 Supporting Information The principal objectives and potential benefits of the proposed reorganisational changes were set out in the BS21 Strategy for Change Part 1 (SfC1) document which was approved by Cabinet on 16th April 2009. The proposals that have been taken forward, which were also the subject of consultation were as set out in the consultation document ‘Shaping your schools’. A summary of each proposal is as follows: 1.1 Abbotsfield/Swakeleys Secondary Schools and Highfield Primary School We propose to fully redevelop the large site which is currently occupied by both Abbotsfield and Swakeleys Schools. Both schools will be rebuilt on this site, and Highfield Primary School will PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS Cabinet Member report 24 August 2009 Page 2 also relocate here. Once rebuilt, 46 new pupil places will be created, which will provide for 7FE (210) intake for each school. Highfield Primary School will also offer an additional 30 pupil places to meet overall predicted demand. Both Abbotsfield and Swakeleys Schools will continue to offer single sex learning between years 7 – 11, and some mixed sex learning will be offered to young people at both schools between years 10 and 11. This mixed sex learning will be provided collaboratively between both schools, and will offer a wider range of facilities, opportunities and curriculum choice to young people. In addition, Abbotsfield and Swakeleys Schools are looking to form a joint framework of governance and leadership such as a federation or a trust. This would mean that each school retains its own identity, and such an arrangement would help to build stronger links and support greater collaboration through shared expertise and leadership. 1.2 Mellow Lane School We propose to remodel the school and build on the existing vocational provision to provide a wider range of courses available to young people. This will include supporting and enhancing the existing Humanities specialism. The school will also become a community hub, offering a wider range of opportunities and facilities to young people and the wider community, both inside and outside of school hours. As a result of BS21, the size of the school site will remain the same, but the planned remodelling will make the best use of available space, and provide a school which meets modern standards plus current and predicted demand for pupil places. We therefore propose to reduce the number of places available at year 7 from 224 to 120 which is in line with current pupil numbers and parental choice. Mellow Lane is also looking to provide a combined special resource provision to provide 20 pupil places for young people with language and communication needs and autistic spectrum disorder. This will replace the separate provisions currently provided at the school. We also propose that Mellow Lane forms a ‘hard federation’ with Rosedale College which will provide a positive partnership of two improving schools. This will mean that each school will retain its own identity, but share a single governing body which will agree leadership arrangements for the two schools. Both schools are considering this following DCSF guidance. 1.3 Rosedale College We propose to rebuild and remodel the school to create an ‘all through school’, to expand the current age range and offer education to young people between the ages of 3 – 19. This will be achieved by creating 60 new primary school places, which will also meet anticipated demand for primary school places in the area. Rosedale College is also exploring the possibility of becoming a trust school, which will enhance collaboration with other schools, businesses and education providers. We also propose that Rosedale College forms a ‘hard federation’ with Mellow Lane School which will provide a positive partnership of two improving schools. This will mean that each PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS Cabinet Member report 24 August 2009 Page 3 school will retain its own identity, but share a single governing body which will agree leadership arrangements for the two schools. 1.4 Bishopshalt School Bishopshalt School will be rebuilt and remodelled to build on the schools Music and Performing Arts specialism.