Secondary School Expansion Proposals Consultation Response Form - November 2009 Background The Council is proposing to enlarge nine secondary schools to accommodate Luton’s growing population. The schools identified for expansion are: • Ashcroft High School • Cardinal Newman Catholic School • Lealands High School • Stopsley High School • Challney High School for Boys • Denbigh High School • Icknield High School • Putteridge High School • Woodlands Secondary School (Special) Methodology o A formal consultation period ran from 9 November to 11 December 2009 during which a series of public consultation meetings were held to provide more information. o The Council was seeking the views of parents, staff, governing bodies and residents on the expansion proposals. o A copy of the Secondary School Expansion Proposal Document and questionnaire were available from the named schools and the Council’s website. Results o In total 46 questionnaires were returned, 26 online surveys, 12 paper surveys, and 8 letters and emails. o Comments were made regarding all of the 9 expanding schools but the majority of responses related to Icknield High School (41%) and Challney High School for Boys (33%). o The majority of respondents object to the Secondary School Expansion proposals. However, the objections expressed only related to 3 schools, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Challney High School for Boys and Icknield High School. The majority of objections were received by local residents (93%). o The majority of responses came from local residents (76%). Just under a third of respondents (29%) were parents or parents of prospective pupils at one or more of the expanding schools. o The main concerns expressed by the respondents were about the traffic congestion and the illegal and obstructive parking. Residents living in the Icknield High School area also sited problems with litter and pupils’ behaviour. 1 Which school does your response relate to? 3 (7%) Ashcroft High School 9 (20%) Cardinal Newman Catholic School 2 (4%) Lealands High School 8 (17%) Stopsley High School 15 (33%) Challney High School for Boys 4 (9%) Denbigh High School 19 (41%) Icknield High School 3 (7%) Putteridge High School 4 (9%) Woodlands Secondary School (Special) Do you support or object to the proposals as outlined in the Secondary School Expansion Proposal document? Tick one box only 7 (15%) Yes, support fully 13 (28%) Yes, support partly 15 (33%) No, object 7 (15%) Not sure Graph A Counts Missing Do you support or object to the proposals Analysis % Yes, support Yes, support Respondents Base No reply fully partly No, object Not sure Base 46 4 7 13 15 7 9% 15% 28% 33% 15% Missing No reply 1 1 - - - - 100% - - - - Which school does your response relate to? Ashcroft High School 3 - 2 - - 1 - 67% - - 33% Cardinal New man 9 - 1 3 3 2 Catholic School - 11% 33% 33% 22% Lealands High 2 - 1 - - 1 School - 50% - - 50% Stopsley High School 8 - 4 2 - 2 - 50% 25% - 25% Challney High School 15 1 2 4 5 3 for Boys 7% 13% 27% 33% 20% Denbigh High School 4 - 2 1 - 1 - 50% 25% - 25% Icknield High School 19 2 2 5 7 3 11% 11% 26% 37% 16% Putteridge High 3 - 2 - - 1 School - 67% - - 33% Woodlands 4 - 2 - - 2 Secondary School - 50% - - 50% (Special) The majority of respondents object to the Secondary School Expansion proposals, however, the objections expressed only related to 3 schools, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Challney High Sch ool for Boys and Icknield High School (see graph A). The majority of objections were received from local residents (93%). 2 If you do not fully support the expansion proposals, please explain why. Please write in the box below Ashcroft High School o No comments received. Cardinal Newman Catholic School o "I understand the reasons for it, my concerns centre on class sizes and the school capacity. It is all well and good building new buildings, but what about the number of teachers, the structure of the existing school, i.e. policies and procedures in place, the staffing structure, the outdoor facilities, the parking facilities and traffic management to and from school. Are these being addressed also? The class size is a big issue for me." o "Denbigh High school requires a much larger pupil intake -Proposed intake for Icknield far too large" o "As a local resident my objection is based on the amount of extra traffic this will involve. Warden Hill Rd is practically a no-go area at the beginning and end of the school day. The road was not built to cope with all of the buses and cars needed now let alone for more pupils. What if the emergency services are needed at this time? They will not be able to get through. What damage is being done to the environment with all the emissions? What damage is being done to our property?" o "a complete lack of information as to the impact of this expansion on local residents and the local area. Local residents are as ever last on the list of priorities to the council." o "There are significant issues for the local community regarding the traffic generated by staff and pupils/parents twice a day. As the school is likely to increase by approximately 20%, there may be a corresponding increase in traffic. The traffic problem has been made worse by the alterations that the council made earlier this year to the end of the road. Two cars used to be able to sit parallel, one waiting to turn right, while one waited to turn left. Now there is only room for one car. This means that the traffic backs right up the road." o "I can understand why there is a need to increase numbers at the school, but I think before this is done a considerable amount of work needs to be done in relation to the transport issue. As a catholic school, Cardinal Newman School attracts children from a wide catchment area, and it is therefore less likely that pupils are able to walk to school. However, the whole of Warden Hill Road is completely jammed by traffic at either end of the school day, and particularly in the afternoon. There are far too many children brought and collected by car, many of which have only one child in. Cars are parked in every available space on the road, making it very difficult for residents to get in and out of their properties, or to exit the road onto the A6. In addition, it would be almost impossible for an emergency vehicle to access any property at this time of day. Parents need to be discouraged from collecting their children immediately outside the school gates (as children are 11 yrs upwards they are able to walk more than 100metres from the school!). More bus services, or an agreement for example for additional parking with Barnfield college site (behind Homebase) might help. If the transport issue is not dealt with the situation in Warden Hill Road will be intolerable. I would not agree with the expansion unless this issue is dealt with." Lealands High School o No comments received 3 Stopsley High School o "I understand the reasons for it, my concerns centre on class sizes and the school capacity. It is all well and good building new buildings, but what about the number of teachers, the structure of the existing school, i.e. policies and procedures in place, the staffing structure, the outdoor facilities, the parking facilities and traffic management to and from school. Are these being addressed also? The class size is a big issue for me." o "Not sure what this would mean to the school - would it become overpopulated? Would it mean the catchment area is larger? Wouldn’t want to attract pupils from other areas really outside of Stopsley and Bushmead" o "I want reassurance that the ratio of pupils to teachers will be adjusted together with the intake of additional pupils. And that teaching staff will be 'permanently employed' and not fill-in/support/agency/temp. teachers" Challney High School for Boys o "With the expansion of any School facilities and buildings in the Luton area raises the problem to the surrounding residents and subsequent Council Tax payers of a nation wide problem of Vehicle congestion. This is my main concern as, the proposal will only aggravate what is currently a very serious problem in the vicinity of Challney High School for Boys and Girls where I live." o "Location of the site and current access arrangements cause major disruption to local residents on a daily basis - increasing capacity will only make the problem worse." o "I object if nothing is done about the traffic which is already terrible in the morning and afternoon. Perhaps you could ban parents from dropping off their kids. Perhaps a couple of adults could be posted around the side streets at chucking out time to stop pupils chucking litter on the streets and into gardens which they do regularly. Have evening classes for parents on birth control and how to bring up their children because a lot of them obviously have no idea." o "I understand the need to expand the school but as a resident I am concerned about the impact the increased pupils at the school will have on traffic. The road outside the school is already very congested at the moment and I imagine this would be a lot worse if there were more pupils at the school. Will there be any provisions taken to manage the increased number of vehicles going to the school so that traffic in the area will not be made worse?" o "I would like to see a smaller RC school to the West of Luton (11-16) and the girls school premises at present would do nicely, allowing some sharing of facilities with the present boys school." o "I hope that the building planners give enough provision for car parking spaces, taking into consideration that lots of parents collect their children.