Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills, presented the report providing an update on the Special School Transformation programme, following the decision of Cabinet on 19 November 2010 to approve the establishment of a new maintained special school with a single leadership team for the existing St Nicholas, Rowdeford and Larkrise schools, and other decisions associated with that approval.

The report highlighted key milestones and noted significant progress that had been made delivering the programme. Approval had been received from the Department for Education’s Office of the School Ajudicator in May 2020 for the closure of the three existing schools, to become a new school across three sites, which opened on 1 September 2020. Families and communities had suggested the name of Silverwood for the new school, and the new executive head was working with the governing body to support the ongoing transformation.

The next stage was the build at Rowde and the construction partner working closely with stakeholders, with the intention that the new site at Rowde be completed for September 2023. Concerns remained in the community around the speed limits on local roads, and this was being looked at as part of transport arrangements for the site.

The Chairman of the Children’s Select Committee, Councillor Jon Hubbard, noted that he had received a briefing on the report and had raised a number of questions, and was satisfied adequate plans were in place to address these.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That Cabinet note the update provided in the report.

Reason for Decision:

To update Cabinet on the Special School Transformation programme and

progress against key milestones in implementing the recommendations agreed by Cabinet in November 2019.