Agenda item

    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 all the Cabinet members, including the three new members had reviewed all correspondence and reports in relation to previous Cabinet meetings on this subject matter.

In response to a number of the above comments Cllr Church explained that (i) the needs and preferences of parents and carers will be key when considering the appropriateness of children/young people transitioning to the new site at Rowdeford (ii) the new site at Rowdeford has the potential for up to 400 pupils and there will be capacity at the other two sites ensuring flexibility for the future; (iii) capacity at the Larkrise and St Nicolas sites will be reduced as space becomes available at the Rowdeford site (iv) a small capital investment is available for adaptations at Larkrise and St Nicholas to repurpose space for smaller numbers; and (iv) significant work being undertaken in relation to inclusive education for both primary and secondary schools. 

Resolved: That the Cabinet:

1. Approves the establishment of a new maintained special school with a single leadership team for the existing St Nicholas, Rowdeford and Larkrise schools as soon as possible and no later than 1 September 2021

2. Approves the closure of St Nicholas, Rowdeford and Larkrise school as a related proposal no later than the 31 August 2021

3. Approves expansion on the existing Rowdeford site to accommodate up to 400 pupils as part of the new special school by September 2023

4. Recommends that a new capital budget is included in the Capital Programme 20/21 which will be approved by Full council in February 2020 at the revised level of £33.194 million required to deliver this proposal

5. Approves that the sites of St Nicholas and Larkrise stay in use until the new provision is ready, and it is appropriate to consider children/young people transitioning to the new site at Rowdeford

6. Authorises the Executive Director of Children’s Services, after consultation with the Cabinet member for Children, Education and Skills, the Director of Legal, Electoral and Registration Services and Chief Finance Officer/Section 151 Officer to take all necessary steps to implement Cabinet’s decision.

That this is achieved by:

a.    Approving that the Council would present a proposal to the School’s Adjudicator to open a new amalgamed maintained special school

b.    Approving that the New School will have primary, secondary and Post 16 provision on the Rowdeford site (early years not to be included due to sufficiency)

c.    Noting and approving the proposal for a parallel programme of work to create a cross county approach to Post 16 special education and transition to independent living

d.    Approving the use of the statutory processes, (under the ‘Making Significant Changes (Prescribed Alterations) to Maintained Schools’ Guidance November 2018), to consult on the appropriateness of transferring the provision at St Nicholas and Larkrise to the Rowdeford site no later than 12 months before opening all the new provision. This consultation would be determined by:

•      The demand for places forecasted at the time of the consultation

•      The views of current and future stakeholders and particularly children and young people with SEND and their parent carers

•      The wider development of inclusive education for children and young people with SEND living in Wiltshire and the role of the New School within this system.

Reasons for Decision:

For Cabinet to consider the responses from the Representation phase of the consultation on proposals to close three special schools (Rowdeford, St Nicholas and Larkrise) and open a new amalgamated school across all three existing sites.