Agenda item

The report sets out an analysis of the representations and responses received from interested parties and stakeholders during the statutory consultation in relation to proposals for the Coquet Partnership.  The report also sets out an analysis of the responses received to the statutory consultation in relation to proposals for Barndale House Special School. Cabinet is being asked to make a final decision on whether or not to approve the prescribed changes for schools in the Coquet Partnership and for Barndale House Special School, as set out in the Statutory Proposals, for implementation with effect from 1^st September 2024.    At the same time, Cabinet is requested to consider and approve the non-statutory proposal to extend the age range of Grange View Church of England First Schools with effect from 1^st September 2024.  Comments made by this Committee will be reported to Cabinet when they consider the report on 17 November 2022.

The Cabinet report set out an analysis of the representations and responses received from interested parties and stakeholders during the four week statutory consultation in relation to the proposals for the Coquet Partnership.  The report also set out an analysis of the responses received to the four week statutory consultation in relation to proposals for Barndale House Special School.  Cabinet was being asked to make a final decision on the proposed prescribed changes to the schools within the Coquet Partnership and to Barndale House Special School to which Cabinet which were also set out in the report.   A comprehensive introduction to the report was provided by S Aviston, Head of School Organisation and Resources, with A Kingham, Joint Interim Director of Children’s Services advising of the huge amount of hard work and support by everyone involved in bringing the proposals forward.

In response to questions from Members the following information was provided:-

·       There was already additional capacity in Grange View CoE First School and a spare classroom which was currently being used for staff.  The extension would include one additional classroom and some provision for the staff.

·       Officers were confident that the budgets were robust and the report made it clear that Cabinet were not only being asked to make a decision to change the organisation of the partnership, but to confirm that funding was also in place.

·       It was assumed that every child in year 4 would stay to year 5 and therefore additional revenue funding would go into the school for the maximum number of pupils. There were other partnerships with small primary schools that were very successful and remained in budget.

·       There would be pressure on all school budgets within the current financial climate however additional children would bring more revenue into the school as the National Funding Formula (NFF) was based on the number of children in a school.  Modelling would be undertaken at Schools Forum in advance of any revenue budget settlement being announced and a report would be provided to this Committee in January on this.

·       In terms of staff, it was not being proposed that any schools would close and the principle would be that staff and resources would follow the children with some redeployment opportunities.

·       Part of the carbon neutral proposals for the new build for James Calvert Spence College would be the provision of solar panels and a separate programme regarding the retrofitting of solar panels on schools and their suitability was ongoing. However it was confirmed that some schools already had solar panels fitted.

·       The proposals for all schools would be fully funded by the Local Authority.

·       Officers had met with Governors from Barndale House Special School who had been pleasantly surprised by the plans and space which would be available on the JCSC site and were reassured that a transition plan would be introduced to ensure that expansion growth was undertaken in a phased and managed way.

·       The additional £2m funding identified for the Coquet Partnership was from the Cabinet decision on the Seaton Valley Partnership not to include the relocation of Seaton Sluice Middle School.

Members were pleased to see the proposals were supported by the Governing Bodies and Headteachers within the partnership and particularly welcomed the additional places at Barndale House Special School. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet be advised that this Committee supported the recommendations as outlined in the report.