Agenda item

Outcomes of the Consultation on Proposals for the Berwick Partnership

This report presents the outcomes and analysis of feedback received from stakeholders arising from Phase 2 pre-statutory consultation with stakeholders in the Berwick Partnership area approved by Cabinet on 22 October 2022. The Phase 2 consultation set out possible models of school organisation within both the current 3-tier system and within a 2-tier (primary/secondary) system. Consultation was also undertaken with stakeholders on proposals for increased specialist provision within the Berwick Partnership area and feedback and analysis arising from this aspect of the consultation is also set out in the report. Feedback received during consultation has been used to assist with the determination of the final conclusions and recommendations. Cabinet is now asked to approve the recommendation to publish statutory proposals for the implementation of a 2-tier (primary/secondary) structure in the Berwick Partnership, which includes the proposed closure of some schools (Appendix E).

Outcomes of the Consultation on Proposals for the Berwick Partnership

This report presented the outcomes and analysis of feedback received from stakeholders arising from Phase 2 pre-statutory consultation with stakeholders in the Berwick Partnership area approved by Cabinet on 22 October 2022. The Phase 2 consultation set out possible models of school organisation within both the current 3-tier system and within a 2-tier (primary/secondary) system. Consultation was also undertaken with stakeholders on proposals for increased specialist provision within the Berwick Partnership area and feedback and analysis arising from this aspect of the consultation was also set out in the report.  Feedback received during consultation had been used to assist with the determination of the final conclusions and recommendations. Cabinet was now asked to approve the recommendation to publish statutory proposals for the implementation of a 2-tier (primary/secondary) structure in the Berwick Partnership, which included the proposed closure of some schools (copy attached to the signed minutes as Appendix E).

A copy of a report on the outcome of the discussions at the Family and Children’s Services OSC meeting on 4 May 2023, was circulated to members at the meeting.  The report was presented by Councillor G. Renner-Thompson.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)    note the feedback from the informal and pre-statutory consultations set out at paragraphs 30 to 77 of the report.

(2)    decide in the light of the feedback from consultation set out in this report and any recommendations from the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee whether to approve the publication of the statutory proposals setting out the intention of the County Council to implement the following proposals:

1.     Extend the age range of Spittal Community First School from an age 4-9 first school to an age 4-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025; although not a prescribed alteration, approve the reduction of the planned admission number of the school from 40 to 30 from the same date;

2.     Extend the age range of Tweedmouth Prior Park First School from an age 3-9 first school to an age 3-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

3.     Extend the age range of Tweedmouth West First School from an age 4-9 first school to an age 4-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

4.     Extend the age range of Wooler First School from an age 2-9 first school to an age 2-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

5.     Extend the age range of Scremerston First School from an age 4-9 first school to an age 4-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025; although not a prescribed alteration, approve the reduction of the planned admission number of the school from 18 to 10 from the same date;

6.     Close Berwick Middle School with effect from 31 August 2026;

7.     Close Glendale Middle School with effect from 31 August 2026;

8.     Close Tweedmouth Community Middle School with effect from 31 August 2026;

9.     Establish an SEN unit at the site of Berwick St Mary’s Church of England First to be managed by the school with specialist provision for up to 30 places reserved for pupils aged 4 to 11 with primary needs in SEMH, ASD, MLD and SLCN with effect from 1 September 2025.

(3)    Cabinet would be asked to approve the following non-statutory proposals included in Phase 2 pre-consultation in conjunction with its final decision on the statutory proposals set out in para. b) and these proposals would be included in the published statutory proposal for information;

1.     Extend the age range of Berwick St Mary’s Church of England First School from an age 3-9 first school to an age 3-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025 and reduce the planned admission number of the school from 30 to 15;

2.     Extend the age range of Holy Trinity Church of England First School from an age 3-9 first school to an age 3-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

3.     Extend the age range of Holy Island Church of England First School from an age 3-9 first school to an age 3-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

4.     Extend the age range of Hugh Joicey Church of England First School from an age 4-9 first school to an age 4-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

5.     Extend the age range of Lowick Church of England Voluntary Controlled First School from an age 2-9 first school to an age 2-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025;

6.     Extend the age range of Norham St Coelwulf’s C of E Controlled First School from an age 3-9 first school to an age 3-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025.

(4)    Approve the allocation of the catchment area of Belford Primary School (including a slight reduction in its size) from the Berwick Partnership to the greater Alnwick Partnership as part of an amendment to the Council’s admissions arrangements taking effect from 1 September 2024, and thereby permit that a request is submitted to the Schools Adjudicator to amend the relevant admissions arrangements approved in February 2023.

(5)    Note that local authorities do not have powers to propose or change the organisation of academies.  Therefore, the proposed changes to the age ranges of St Cuthbert’s Catholic First School to become an age 3-11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2025 and for Berwick Academy to become an age 11 to 18 secondary academy, consulted on as part of the Phase 2 wider Berwick partnership reorganisation would need to be approved by the Bishop Bewick Academy Trust and Trustees of Berwick Academy respectively.  In addition, the Trustees of Berwick Academy would need to approve the establishment of an SEN unit on the site of Berwick Academy to be managed by the academy with specialist provision for up to 40 places reserved for pupils aged 11 to 16 with primary needs in SEMH, ASD, MLD and SLCN with effect from 1 September 2026.

If approved, the academy trusts would need to take a request for final approval forward to the Regional Department for Education (DfE) Director North East.  The decision of the Bishop Bewick Academy Trust and Trustees of Berwick Academy Regional DfE Director to approve the changes in ranges of St Cuthbert’s and Berwick Academy and to approve the establishment of an SEN unit on the site of Berwick Academy would be contingent on the Council’s final approval of the statutory proposal, if approved for publication.

(6)    Note that the outcomes of the publication of the Statutory Proposals would be brought back to Cabinet in July and in any event within two months of the date of their publication for a final decision in relation to the proposals set out in paras. b) to d).

(7)    Note the indicative capital costs outlined in this report and the implications for the Medium-Term Capital Programme.

(8)    Note the implications for Home to School Transport set out in this report.