Proposed amalgamation of Hythe Community School and Hythe, St Leonard's Church of England Junior (Voluntary controlled) School, Shepway - Outcome of public consultation By: Graham Badman, Strategic Director Education and Libraries and Leyland Ridings, Cabinet Member for School Organisation and Early Years to Cabinet - 11 July 2005 Summary: This report sets out the results of the public consultation for the amalgamation of Hythe Community School and Hythe, St Leonard’s Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) School. It seeks Cabinet’s agreement to the issuing a public notice for the closure of both schools and assisting the interim governing body in issuing a public notice for the establishment of a 2FE all through (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School on the site of Hythe Community School Introduction 1. (1) The School Organisation Advisory Board at its meeting on 17 March 2005 supported the undertaking of a public consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Hythe Community School and Hythe St Leonard's CEJ (VC) School. (2) Hythe Community and Hythe St Leonard’s CE (VC) Junior Schools are both two form entry schools having an entry of up to 56 pupils in each year group. (3) Hythe St Leonard’s School currently operates in inadequate Victorian buildings with the majority of classrooms being too small and either too hot or too cold. Its playing fields are located on land at Hythe Community School. Hythe Community School is an infant school in SEAC buildings. (4) The schools are situated on separate sites with a distance of approximately 200m between them. A map is attached as Appendix 1 (please contact Geoff Mills on 01622 694289 or Karen Mannering on 01622 694367 for a copy of the map). (5) Table 1 indicates capacities and forecast rolls of schools within a 2 mile radius of Hythe Community School and Hythe St Leonard’s Junior School. Table 1 - School roll and forecast data for Hythe Community School and Hythe St Leonard's Junior School, Shepway Rural, as reported to the School Organisation Advisory Board at its meeting on 17 March 2005. Forecast roll Provisio (3) Planned School nal roll Number of School name Typ admission capacity year groups e number (1) (2) Ja Ja Ja Ja Jan-05 n- n- n- n- 06 07 08 09 Hythe CS Infa 56 3 168 159 14 13 13 13 nt 0 6 1 3 Hythe, St Leonards CEJS Juni 56 4 224 195 21 22 22 20 or 7 4 2 9 Palmarsh PS* Prim 28 7 196 142 16 17 16 16 ary 7 2 9 9 Prim Seabrook CEPS 15 7 105 101 92 88 89 85 ary Saltwood CEPS Prim 30 7 210 222 21 20 19 19 ary 0 6 9 7 St Augustine's Catholic PS Prim 30 7 210 195 19 18 19 18 ary 3 8 4 9 Additional pupils from new - - - - - 10 19 46 74 housing within 2 miles (4) Total pupils - within 2 miles - 215 - 1113 1014 10 10 10 10 29 33 50 56 Surplus/deficit on capacity - - - - - 99 84 80 63 57 within 2 miles (5) Lympne CEPS Prim 32 7 224 232 23 23 22 22 ary 8 0 8 2 Cheriton PS Prim 58 7 406 388 37 35 34 33 ary 5 9 6 1 Folkestone, St Martin's CEPS Prim 30 7 210 207 21 20 19 19 ary 1 1 7 0 All Souls' CEPS Prim 36 7 252 284 27 25 25 23 ary 1 5 0 6 Additional pupils from new - - - - - 16 30 58 92 housing within 3 miles (4) Total pupils - within 3 miles - 371 - 2205 2125 21 21 21 21 40 08 29 27 Surplus/deficit on capacity - - - - - 80 65 97 76 78 within 3 miles (5) Notes: *The PAN for Palmarsh will be reduced to 20 in 2006-07. This will reduce surplus places by 56. (1) Maximum number to be admitted for entry in September 2005 (2) School capacity is the planned admission number multiplied by the number of year groups (3) Forecast roll data is based on projections made in January 2004 (4) This is an estimate, based on best current knowledge, of the number of additional primary-aged children that may have to be accommodated in primary schools in the area of Hythe Community School and Hythe St. Leonard's Junior School, as a result of local new housing developments Negative number indicates that there may not be sufficient places available to meet demand. A positive number indicates that there may be surplus school places. The Proposal 2. (1) To amalgamate Hythe Community and Hythe St Leonard's CE (VC) Junior schools to form a single primary school, catering for pupils aged 4-11 years. The amalgamation, if approved, would be effected by the closure of both schools and the establishment of a new Church of England, Voluntary Controlled School on the Hythe Community School site. (2) The new school would admit two forms of entry, giving it an admission number of 56 and a capacity of 392 (as now for the individual schools). The proposal would take effect from September 2007. (3) The Silver Felix Youth Centre occupies a building adjoining the St Leonard’s site. The centre uses the school’s playground and outbuildings. This facility would need to be replaced either on or offsite as part of the project. The school site is the preferred location and the feasibility study has made allowance for an onsite option which locates the youth centre at the front of the existing infant school. This option satisfies both headteachers, governing bodies and Youth and Community representatives. However, offsite alternatives are also currently being explored. Background Information 3. (1) Amalgamation of these two schools was considered in 2000 following the resignation of the headteacher of the Hythe Community School. The governing bodies of both schools supported the proposals, but the capital for the required building work could not be raised. This situation has now been addressed. (2) Kent County Council has had a policy of supporting the amalgamation of infant and junior schools since 1992 as part of “Children First – A Primary Strategy for Kent”. The Kent School Organisation Plan, approved by the Statutory School Organisation Committee, confirms this policy. (3) As set out in the Next Four Years, KCC has commitment to working with schools to make them centres for community learning, and supporting them in meeting the wider needs of the community by engaging health, social services, the police, the voluntary sector and other services. By amalgamating the schools, we will give further emphasis on community provision in the area. Public Consultation Process 4. (1) A consultation document in Appendix 2 (not available online) was circulated according to the County Procedures for Review. This included Local Members, District Council and Member of Parliament and other interested parties. (2) Approximately 1,000 copies of the document were circulated. (3) The document included a separate form on which respondents could express their views. (4) A public meeting was held at Hythe Community School on 18 April 2005. The meeting was chaired by Mr W Hayton (Chairman of the School Organisation Advisory Board). Mr David Adams (Area Education Officer), Ms Julie Stones [Executive Support Officer) and Mrs Kendra Stanley-Berridge (Education Support Officer) were in attendance. (5) There were 69 members of the public in attendance. Responses to the Public Consultation Written Responses 5. (1) In total 91 written responses have been received, of which 83 were in favour and 8 were against. (2) A summary of written responses is attached as Appendix 3. Responses to the main points are included in the Area Education Officer’s Comments in Section 10. Public Meeting Responses (3) A summary of comments, views and responses is attached as Appendix 4. Views of the Local Member 6. The Local Member, Mr C Capon, has been kept fully informed of the progress of this proposal. He is fully supportive of the amalgamation and believes it will benefit the pupils greatly and also the people of Hythe. Views of the Governing Bodies The Governing Body of Hythe Community School 7. (1) The Governing Body of Hythe Community School strongly supports the amalgamation of the two schools for the following reasons: • We have a vision shared with the Governors of Hythe St Leonard's Junior School, our staff and our families, that all the children of Hythe will have the opportunity to attend one local primary school. • We believe that standards will rise when children no longer have to change school at the KS2 transition. • We know that a purpose built school, designed specifically for the education of children of 21st Century will allow for the development of a curriculum to further enhance children's learning and prepare them for life in the world of the future. • It will be possible to develop and extend on the early years, community and family support work initiated through the Early Excellence programme to provide full extended school services in the area. • Achievement and attainment will continue to rise when better partnerships are developed between staff working in all three phases of the curriculum. • The best use can be made of resources - financial, staffing and time if the school is amalgamated. The Governing Body of Hythe, St Leonard’s CE Junior School: (2) The Governing Body of Hythe, St Leonard's CE Junior School strongly supports the amalgamation of the two schools for the following reasons: • We have a shared vision with our staff and parents and Hythe Community school Governing Body and its staff for a new through Primary school; • We consider it essential to provide a better teaching and learning environment for our pupils for the 21st Century; • ? It will encourage and motivate both staff and pupils to further raise standards and outcomes and improve the overall performance of the new school; • It will optimise resources such as staffing, finance and time which is given voluntarily from external sources in supporting the school; • It will provide a vital facility for the community for its use and development; • Both governing bodies readily agreed that the new school will be a Church school as this provides a sound foundation for the development of Christian beliefs, values and practices.