! ! ! Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Report September 2014 ! Contents Pages Executive Summary 3 Key Findings 4 Recommendations 5 Introduction 6 Consultation Process 7 - 8 Outcomes of the Consultation 9 - 14 Appendices 15 - 25 ! 2! ! ! Executive Summary The ten week consultation process for Kilburn Grange Primary School commenced on Tuesday 8th July 2014 and concluded on Monday 16th September 2014. Two drop-in Consultation Events were facilitated as follows: 1. Kingsgate Community Centre in Kilburn, on Wednesday 16th July, 2014 1.00pm – 3.00pm 2. Kingsgate Community Centre in Kilburn, on Wednesday 8th September, 2014 6.00pm – 8.00pm The two meetings attracted a combined total of five attendees. A number of the attendees at the two meetings were local parents who were interested to learn more about the school’s vision, ethos and educational values. A repeated statement made by local parents who supported the establishment of Kilburn Grange School was that they agreed that there was a need for more primary school places in the southern locality of the London Borough of Brent. The respondents to the Statutory Consultation who did not support the establishment of the school evidently disagreed with the free school model and what they perceived as a lack of ‘accountability to the local community’. Ultimately 85% of the responses were supportive of the school’s establishment and supported the specific purpose of the consultation, whether the Secretary of State should enter into a Funding Agreement with Bellevue Place Education Trust for Kilburn Grange School. ! 3! ! ! Key Findings Throughout the full period of the Statutory Consultation, respondents have expressed their support for the: • Proposed Vision and Ethos • Proposed curriculum • Motivation of the Proposer Group: Bellevue Place Education Trust Key Findings from the Statutory Consultation are: 1 Support and demand for the establishment of Kilburn Grange School was further evidenced by the respondents who, during the consultation period, expressed their support for the establishment of the new school including its ethos and vision. 85% of respondents to the Statutory Consultation Questionnaire supported the establishment of Kilburn Grange School. 2 A repeated statement made by local parents who supported the establishment of Kilburn Grange School was that they agreed that there was a need for more primary school places in the southern locality of the London Borough of Brent. 3 A number of parents who responded to the Statutory Consultation were keen to learn more about the permanent site for Kilburn Grange School, i.e. the former College of North West London Kilburn campus on Priory Park Road – and when this site would be operational – including in order that they would be able to visit it. 4 A number of respondents (who were parents) asked for clarification as to how the admissions policy would work and whether the London Borough of Brent were offering their support to the establishment of Kilburn Grange School. 5 Throughout the Statutory Consultation period, particularly during the two Consultation Events, parents sought clarification as to whether the school would employ teachers with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). 6 Attendees at both Consultation Events sought clarification as to whether the school would be designed and renovated so outdoor play space would be available for its eventual pupils. ! 4! ! ! Recommendations A Kilburn Grange School/Bellevue Place Education Trust needs to continue to act on the evident enthusiasm among local parents and stakeholders (including the London Borough of Brent), from the Kilburn community, for the establishment of the proposed school and it’s opening in September 2015. B Ongoing publicity, including that via the Kilburn Grange School website and Facebook page, should seek to reiterate: (a) That it is the continuing intention of Bellevue Place Education Trust that the school will open in September 2015 and; (b) The steps that need to be completed to ensure that this is the case over the forthcoming twelve months. C Ongoing publicity, including that via the Kilburn Grange School website and Facebook page, should continue to inform interested parents, local residents and stakeholders about the eventual (permanent) site for the school and provide updates on the necessary renovations at the site, including those in relation to the development of outdoor play space. D Forthcoming publicity, including that via the Kilburn Grange School website and Facebook page, should continue to confirm to interested parents and stakeholders the fact that existing schools which have been set up by Bellevue Place Education Trust employ high quality, experienced and committed staff whose (QTS) qualification(s) for their job, role and responsibilities are appropriate. E Bellevue Place Education Trust should upload a copy of the school’s admissions policy on to its website when it is ratified, and this aspect of the new school’s operation should feature at the school’s open events. ! 5! ! ! Introduction All proposed Free Schools which move into pre-opening phase are obliged to undertake a period of Statutory Consultation – the key aims of which are: • To ensure stakeholders are informed about the Free School proposal. • To gauge support from all audiences by highlighting the distinct offer of the Free School. • To ensure all identified stakeholders receive information about the Free School. • To offer all stakeholders a range of opportunities to feed back their views to the Proposer. • To reassure stakeholders that the introduction of the Free School will have a positive impact on pupils, and the wider community. In September 2015, Kilburn Grange School will open to its local community with an initial intake of two classes of 30 children in the Reception year. The school will then grow organically until it reaches its eventual capacity of 420 number pupils in 2021. Kilburn Grange School will use a development strategy, which involves three key aspects: 1. Developing and sustaining outstanding teaching; 2. Maximising the use of ICT to support learning, and 3. Securing the wellbeing and confidence of pupils so they are happy, safe and secure learners. The school’s curriculum will be broad and balanced with specific focus on literacy and numeracy. Kilburn Grange School will located at the site of the former College of North West London Kilburn campus on Priory Park Road – just off Kilburn High Road. Ultimately, it is intended that by September 2015, Kilburn Grange School will be completely open to the community it serves and will seek to share its resources with others within the Kilburn locality and its surrounding community. Essentially, it will seek to create relationships with its neighbouring schools: sharing learning and teaching resources where possible. Former College of North West London Kilburn campus ! 6! ! ! Consultation Process Methodology The consultation process for Kilburn Grange School commenced on Tuesday 8th July 2014 and concluded on Monday 16th September 2014. A project team worked closely with the Proposer Group to identify a full list of stakeholders, including local primary and secondary schools, local community groups, faith groups and officers/elected members from the London Borough of Brent (see Appendix B – page 16). The consultation process utilised a wide range of strategies and deliverables to ensure that each target audience had a number of opportunities to attain information about the proposals and were able to respond to them in a range of ways. For example: Copies of a consultation booklet were distributed electronically to stakeholders including: • Local primary and secondary schools; • Community groups; • Daycare establishments; • Faith groups; • Teaching Unions; • Local ward councillors and local MP’s. The consultation booklet summarised the proposals for Kilburn Grange Primary School and included a Consultation Questionnaire/web-link to enable parents, local residents and stakeholders to register their views (see Appendix A – page 15). All stakeholders will continue to be consulted as the project moves forward, with an interested stakeholder database being updated on a regular basis. The Kilburn Grange School website can be viewed at: http://www.kilburngrangeschool.org.uk The website incorporates: • (Up to September 2014) statutory consultation section • School’s vision and ethos • Proposed curriculum and education vision • Announcements and news • Proposed admissions policy, admissions application form and registration details • Recruitment section • Frequently Asked Questions section ! 7! ! ! Leafleting of local vicinity In mid-July 2014, residents who lived within the immediate vicinity of the proposed catchment area of Kilburn Grange School received a hard copy of the consultation booklet, which promoted the school and its forthcoming launch. Essentially, consultation booklets were distributed to residents on nearby roads that could be affected by either/or: • A possible increase in traffic volume or those seeking to find a parking space; • Noise emanating from the school. It should be noted that commercial premises were also provided with a consultation booklet, including those situated on nearby Kilburn High Road. A number of roads and housing estates (within 10 minutes walking distance) where further leafleting took place to alert residents about the proposed school are listed in Appendix C – page 23. Press Releases Details concerning the Statutory Consultation were issued to the local and regional media