| To approve the proposals / recommendations contained in the report without modification as set out below.
1. To note the outcome of pre-statutory consultation as set out in Appendix 1 of this report and documents In Members Rooms.
2. To make the following statutory proposals for changes to primary education in the City Centre area:
(i) The enlargement by 30 places (1FE) per year group of Maytree Infant and Nursery School, with implementation from 1 September 2010, beginning with Year R and continuing incrementally until all years have been expanded. This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60) to 3FE (90) per year group, increasing the total number of places from 180 to 270 by September 2011.
(ii) The enlargement by 30 places (1FE) per year group of St Mary’s C of E Primary and Nursery School, with implementation from 1 September 2011 beginning with Year R and incrementally thereafter until all years have expanded. This would have the effect of enlarging the school from 2FE (60) to 3FE (90) per year group, increasing the total number of places from 420 to 630 places in total by September 2016.
(iii) The enlargement by 30 places (1FE) per year group of Mount Pleasant Junior School, with implementation from 1 from September 2012, beginning with Year 3 and continuing incrementally until all years have been expanded, which would enlarge the school from 2FE (60) to 3FE (90) per year group increasing the total number of places from 240 to 360 by September 2015.
(iv) To maintain Bevois Town Primary School at its present size 1FE (30) for the immediate future, but to review the possibility of extending or rebuilding at a larger size in the future, if and when justified by further growth in pupil numbers.
NB While it is currently intended to implement the proposals on the dates specified, the Council reserves the right to consider any future variation or revocation application should pupil numbers so require.
3. To make the following statutory proposals for changes to primary education in the Freemantle and Old Town area:
(i) By means of enlargement and a prescribed alteration published jointly with the school governing body to change the age range of St Mark’s CE Junior School from 7 – 11 to 4 – 11 by admitting up to 30 4 year olds (Year R) in 2010, and up to 60 4 year olds in 2011 and subsequent years. The 2010 admissions year group would remain at 1FE (30) throughout Key Stage 1, but would be permitted to expand to 60 from 2013 at the start of Key Stage 2. Junior admissions of pupils at age 7 would be correspondingly reduced incrementally from September 2011 from 90 (3FE) to 60 (2FE). The result of these changes is that St Mark’s would alter from being a junior school with a maximum of 360 7 to 11 year old pupils, to being an all through primary school with a maximum of 420 4 to 11 year old pupils.
(ii) By means of enlargement and a prescribed alteration published jointly with the school governing body to change the age range of Freemantle C of E Infant and Nursery School from 4 – 7 to 4 – 11 by enabling up to 60 pupils to transfer or be admitted to Year 3 as 7 year olds from 1 September 2011. Subsequent 7 year old cohorts would also be able to transfer or be admitted to Year 3. This would result in the school changing from being an infant school with a maximum of 180 places to being an all through primary school with 420 places.
(iii) By means of a prescribed alteration the remodelling of St John’s Infant and Nursery School 1FE (30) per year group, to form a 1FE (30) per year group (210 place) primary school, beginning with the addition of 1FE (30) in Y3 with implementation from 1 September 2010. Growth would then be incremental. This would result in the school changing from an infant school with a maximum of 90 places to a primary school with 210 places by September 2013.
(iv) If evidence of growth in the birth rate and further demand for school places confirms current projections to bring forward proposals no later than December 2010 for the expansion of Foundry Lane Primary School admission number from 2FE (60) to 3FE (90). The 1FE (30) increase would begin with YR from 1 September 2012 and continue incrementally to create a 3FE (90) per year group (630 place) primary school, increasing the total number of places from 420 to 630 places by September 2018. If there is not sufficient evidence of growth in the birth rate, rendering this expansion unnecessary, the Council reserves the right to apply for revocation of this proposal.
(v) By means of a prescribed alteration to change the age range of Banister Infant and Nursery School from 4 – 7 to 4 – 11 from 2013. The proposal to change the age range would result in the school changing from being an infant school with a maximum of 135 places to being a primary school with a maximum of 315 places.
(vi) If evidence of growth in the birth rate and further demand for school places confirms current projections to bring forward proposals no later than December 2011 for the expansion of Banister Infant and Nursery School admissions number from 1.5FE (45) to 2FE (60). If the admissions number is raised to 2FE (60) the resulting primary school would have 420 places. If there is not sufficient evidence of growth in the birth rate, rendering this expansion unnecessary, the Council reserves the right to apply for revocation of this proposal.
NB While it is currently intended to implement the proposals on the dates specified, the Council reserves the right to consider any future variation or revocation application should pupil numbers so require.
4. To approve the following change to the admissions arrangements for Banister, Freemantle C of E, St John’s and St Mark’s C of E schools from September 2010 in order to implement the Statutory Proposals if approved.
The present catchment area of St Mark’s C of E Junior School. will become the catchment area for all four schools as shown in Appendix 2. The final determination of the proposed catchment area shall be carried out in accordance with Recommendation 7 prior to the publication of Statutory Notices.
In the event of over-subscription the current approved oversubscription criteria will continue to operate as follows:
If the number of applications received is greater than the admission limit, admissions will be decided according to the following priorities:
1. Children in public care (looked after children).
2. Children who have a brother or sister already on the roll of the school who will continue to attend that school for the following year. (This includes children living as siblings in the same family unit.)
3. Children who live within the school's designated catchment area.
If the school is oversubscribed from within these criteria, priorities (i) to (iv), as set out at 4 below, will be used to determine which children will be offered places.
4. Children who live outside the school’s designated catchment area, in the following order:
(i) Children whose parents have named a particular school because the child has a significant medical or psychological condition which means they must attend the preferred school rather than any other. Applications must be supported by appropriate written evidence from a doctor or psychologist.
(ii) Children whose parents are applying for their child to attend a Church of England voluntary controlled school on denominational grounds. Evidence of regular church attendance at services held by the Church of England or a local ecumenical partnership (as defined in the school’s prospectus) must be certified by the vicar or someone else of authority in the church.
(iii) Infant schools only – children who have a sibling in the designated
catchment junior school who will continue to attend that school for the
following year
or in the case of a junior school
(iii) Children attending the designated catchment infant school
(iv) Children who live closest to the school based on the shortest practicable walking distance using public roads and footpaths. Distances are measured from home to school for in-catchment children and from either home to school or home to the designated catchment area boundary for out-catchment children, as agreed with each school and laid out in the school prospectus.
Should a school be oversubscribed from within any of the criteria 4(i) to 4(iii) above, then distance as defined in 4(iv) will be used to prioritise applications within these categories.
Should there be two or more identical distances requiring prioritisation, this will be done by casting lots
If this proposal is carried forward the change in admission arrangements for 2010 may require an application for variation to the Schools Adjudicator.
5. To note the capital implications of the proposal set out in this report, and to note that the relevant capital decisions will be taken by means of a further report following the statutory consultation process.
6. To approve in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure of £168,000 in 2009/10 and to procure a temporary classroom to be used for early years and community use while the Townhill Community Centre is rebuilt, and then re-used to implement part of the primary review. This to be funded from Primary Capital Grant.
7. To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Children’s Services and Learning, following consultation with the Cabinet Members for Children’s Services, to do anything necessary to give effect to the recommendations, including but not limited to alterations to catchment areas, transport provision and other ancillary matters.
8. To delegate authority to the Solicitor to the Council, to take any necessary action to comply with the requirements of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and associated legislation, including the publication of Statutory Notices, to give effect to the recommendations in this report. |