Issue - meetings

    Report by Executive Director Terence Herbert.

Cllr Pauline Church, Cabinet member for Children, Education and Skills presented a report detailing the responses from the Representation phase of the consultation on a proposal to close three special schools, Rowdeford, St Nicholas and Larkrise, and open a new amalgamated school across all three existing sites.

Cllr Church reminded the Cabinet that they had considered the matter at their meetings held on 27 November 2018 and 22 May 2019. Since the Cabinet meeting in May 2019, the Council issued a Statutory Notice regarding the closure of the three schools and the opening of one new amalgamated maintained school, with a consultation period held during September 2019. The details of which were included in the report.  Cllr Church thanked all those who were involved and responded to the consultation and indicated that their involvement in the process had changed the Councils view of the way forward and signalled a move away from closing Larkrise and St Nicholas Schools to a three site solution.

Cllr Church reminded the meeting that there would be further consultation at a later stage in the build (anticipated to be in 2022/23) to consider, based primarily on demand and the views of stakeholders at that time, the requirement for sites in the future.The Council anticipated a total investment of up to £35 million in a purpose built Centre of Excellence at Rowde. The current proposals, which would reduce overcrowding, were financially sustainable.   

A number of statements and questions were received from school representatives and the public in relation to the proposals, copies of which are attached at Appendix 1 to these minutes.  In response to the statements and questions, Cllr Church explained that additional capital funding was available for necessary investment for Larkrise and St Nicholas, appropriate training, support and funding would be delivered to enable a smooth transition, confirmed the future link between special schools, mainstream education and the Inclusion and SEND strategy which is in consultation, consideration of speed limits outside Rowdeford school and the necessary physical changes to the Rowdeford site.    

In addition to the above representations, the Leader welcomed the views of Councillors on the following issues:

·         Expectation setting and the delivery of a three site school solution not being guaranteed in perpetuity

·         Number of places and if they are sufficient

·         The pressing need to find additional places for September 2020 which can offer opportunities for movement across the three school sites this September

·         Overall cost of the project acknowledging both the lower and higher thresholds within the report and the potential to draw in additional funds if further places were needed

·         Additional capital investment at Larkrise and St Nicholas

·         The need for resource bases to enable young people to be taught in their local communities, for both primary and secondary and alongside mainstream where appropriate.

·         The relevance of this project being a maintained school

·         The need to invest in transition with staffing and support to families and children/young people

·         Public, carers and educational establishment views taken on board

·         Confirmation that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154