CITY OF CARDIFF COUNCIL CYNGOR DINAS CAERDYDD CABINET MEETING: 17 JULY 2014 SCHOOL ORGANISATION PROPOSALS: RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE SITING OF EASTERN HIGH FOLLOWING CONSULTATION REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING AGENDA ITEM: 11 PORTFOLIO: EDUCATION AND SKILLS (COUNCILLOR JULIA MAGILL) Reason for this Report 1. This report is to inform the Cabinet of the responses received following consultation on two options for a site on which to construct a new build 11-16 Eastern High in conjunction with the construction of post 16 facilities, and to recommend a preferred site. Background 2. At its meeting on 10 October 2013 the Cabinet received a report outlining recommendations to hold a public consultation on potential options for a site on which a new build state of the art 11-16 school (Eastern High) with post 16 provision being delivered by Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) would be constructed. The 11-16 school would replace the existing facilities for Eastern High currently located on the site formerly known as the Rumney High School site. It was also proposed to demolish the existing CAVC facilities and construct new post 16 facilities to be managed by CAVC. 3. Two sites were selected as suitable options on which to consult. These are (in alphabetical order): • Cardiff and Vale College site located at Trowbridge Road, Rumney • The site of the former Llanrumney High School located at Ball Road, Llanrumney 4. A map showing the location of the two sites is at Appendix 1. 5. The consultation ran from 12 December 2013 to 22 January 2014. Parents and others in the local community were invited to respond to the consultation. The consultation process involved: Page 1 of 19 • Distribution of a Consultation Document, outlining background, rationale and implications. This document was distributed to parents, Heads and Chairs of Governors of nearby schools, Members, local residents and other stakeholders. • One public meeting at which the proposal was explained and questions answered. • 9 public drop in sessions where officers were available to answer questions relating to the Consultation Document. • Meetings with pupils from Greenway Primary School, Rumney Primary School, Meadowlane Primary School, Glan yr Afon Primary School, Trowbridge Primary School, Willowbrook Primary School, Pen y Bryn Primary School, Bryn Hafod Primary School and Oakfield Primary School to involve them in the consultation and to obtain their thoughts and views. Details of the sessions can be seen at Appendix 2. • A meeting with pupils from Eastern High to involve them in the consultation and to obtain their thoughts and views. Details of the session can be seen at Appendix 3. • A consultation response slip for return by post or e-mail, attached to the consultation document. 6. The Consultation Response form asked respondees to consider how important each of the following 5 factors were to them when considering where to build the new school (Level of importance 1-5 with 1=High 5= Low): • Access to/impact on the use of off-site playing fields • Disruption to sites that would be occupied during construction • Net cost, taking account of estimated capital receipts and thus affordability • Potential for future development including possible co-location of other community facilities • Proximity to pupil population 7. The views expressed at Council organised meetings and on paper or electronically through the appropriate channels, have been recorded. In total, one public meeting and 9 drop in sessions were held as part of the consultation to allow for a wide and proper process of engagement. 8. In total, only 36 individual responses were received. Of these, 31 had completed the 5 factor section of the Consultation Response form. Subsequently a 105 signature petition proposing that the existing high school site (Rumney High) should be the permanent site for Eastern High was received. Additionally the petition proposed the existing high school site (Rumney High) be included in consultation and that this site should not be earmarked for housing to finance the new school. Page 2 of 19 Pupil Consultation 9. Officers from the Cardiff Youth Service met with pupils from Eastern High to explain the proposal and to ascertain their views on the site options. The site options were explained to 244 Year 7 – 10 pupils from the 960 pupils attending the school. 10. Sessions were also held with pupils from Greenway Primary School, Rumney Primary School, Meadowlane Primary School, Glan yr Afon Primary School, Trowbridge Primary School, Willowbrook Primary School, Pen y Bryn Primary School, Bryn Hafod Primary School and Oakfield Primary School to explain the proposal and ascertain their views on the site options. 11. The pupils were asked to identify and prioritise which of the five factors were important to them using 5 coloured dots each. 12. In addition to the five factors listed a number of pupils stated that having access to a school bus was an important factor, with a small number of pupils stating that access to post 16 options was of importance to them. 13. Responses on how important each of the five factors were considered have been analysed and the order of importance has been established by reference to the average ‘score’ for each factor. The lower the score the greater the importance. It has not been possible to apply an average ‘score’ to the primary pupil responses as this information was collected using an age appropriate method which does not allow for this. 14. Table 1 below sets out the average ‘score’ and the resulting ranking alongside a ranking of the primary pupil responses. Primary Pupils Importance Ranking Public Average Eastern High **(Primary aged Score Pupils Average Collective pupils at 9 Factors/Level of *(31 of 36 Importance Score Importance Average Importance primary importance responses) Ranking (244 pupils) Ranking Score Ranking schools) Access to/impact on the use of off-site playing fields 1.39 1 2.92 4 2.75 3 2 Disruption to sites that would be occupied during construction 2.00 4 2.93 5 2.83 5 3 Net cost, taking into account of estimated capital receipts and thus affordability 1.74 3 2.91 3 2.78 4 4 Potential for future development inc possible co-location of other community facilities 1.48 2 1.89 1 1.84 1 5 Proximity to pupil population 4.16 5 1.89 1 2.15 2 1 * 5 respondees did not complete the 5 factor section of the consultation response form. Page 3 of 19 Consultation Responses 15. The majority view expressed throughout the consultation both at meetings and in written correspondence is one of support for establishing a new build school in the East of Cardiff. 16. Concerns expressed regarding the proposal are set out below along with responses to each. 17. Traffic, transport and parking • Concerns raised regarding increased traffic and potential ‘nuisance’ parking around the new school site impacting on local residents; • Travelling distance for pupils to and from school; • Request for transport to and from school to be provided for pupils living in St Mellons/Llanrumney; • Road safety concerns for pupils travelling to school. Request for a pedestrian crossing for pupils crossing the busy Newport Road travelling from Old St Mellons; • Request for parking for parents picking up and dropping off. 18. It is recognised that there would be potential traffic congestion around the school site at the beginning/end of the school day. However, the Council would work with the Governing Body of the school to develop a Travel Plan to minimise any potential disruption. Traffic and transport implications would be considered as part of the Transport Assessment that would be required in order to achieve planning consent for building works. 19. Cardiff’s Supplementary Planning Guidance (Access, Circulation and Parking Standards 2010) sets out that all new or expanded schools are required to develop a Travel Plan for submission with a planning application. 20. A Travel Plan is a policy and action plan to: • manage transport efficiently • improve access by all means of travel for employees, visitors, parents and students • encourage sustainable transport – walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing • reduce car use. 21. A School Travel Plan is specifically designed to address the transport needs of pupils and staff and will vary according to the nature of the education being provided, any community facilities on site and the catchment area of a school. 22. Cardiff’s transport network is under pressure and experiences congestion from commuters driving into the city and people making short local trips by car. Traffic associated with the school run adds to congestion. Cardiff Council’s policy is to encourage and promote the increased use of Page 4 of 19 sustainable travel modes and to promote independent travel to school wherever possible. This is particularly pertinent to pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4 as this age group is generally more able to undertake unaccompanied travel. 23. Emphasis is placed on travel by active modes where this is possible and on providing the facilities and opportunities at school for students to travel by walking, cycling and public transport. Encouraging active travel to school is a very important means of increasing levels of physical activity in children and tackling the growing problem of childhood obesity. Reducing congestion at the school gate is key to ensuring the safety of pupils and to mitigating impacts on the local neighbourhood. 24. In the Consultation Document it stated that no pupils living within the proposed catchment area would qualify for free transport as all pupils live within 3 miles walking distance to either the CAVC site or the Llanrumney High School site. 25. Pupils may only qualify for free home to school transport if their homes are along country lanes where there are no footpaths if these are classed as unavailable walking routes.