Why are we considering making changes?
We know that there are long term barriers to success for some of the city’s schools and so disadvantaged pupils do not perform as well as other pupils in the city.
We have too many school places in the city for the number of secondary aged children and young people in future years.
Even with the recently introduced Free School Meal (FSM) priority we will have disparity in the percentage of FSM pupils in the city’s schools.
In the city we have a mix of multi-school and single school catchment areas meaning a two-tier system for parents.
The council only has limited options to set a strategic city expectation about addressing educational inequality.
We want to:
•Maintain the geographic spread of secondary schools in the city.
•Have aspirations for all secondary schools to be ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.
•Ensure that available places align closer with pupil numbers – in turn assisting with budget sustainability.
•Improve the education offer for disadvantaged pupils by reducing some schools’ barriers to success.
•Mitigate the negative impact on schools who need to change because of these proposals by exploring structural change to maintain a broad curriculum and holistic school experience.
•Deliver a ‘comprehensive’ offer from our city schools because we feel it is better for all pupils and creates better outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, so a more mixed pupil intake is required.
•Have equality of outcomes – results not driven by economic advantage
•Give more families agency to place their children in a suitable school
•Ensure schools that control their own admissions understand the rationale for change and to invite them to participate.
•Make changes to the council’s admission policy for the good of the city aware that government policy prioritises parental preference and reputation over anything else.
•Deliver change whilst ensuring a genuine alliance of city schools that considers the ‘city child’ and works in effective partnership.
The data
There are currently 2560 secondary school places in the city.
|
Year |
Projected Number of Pupils in the city |
|
Sept 2025 |
2278 pupils |
|
Sept 2026 |
2276 pupils |
|
Sept 2028 |
2219 pupils |
|
Sept 2029 |
2101 pupils |
|
Sept 2030 |
2023 pupils |
We are considering a step change in available places in Sept 2026 and then in Sept 2030.
•Sept 2026 - 2410 places
•Sept 2030 - 2215 places
This proposal is intended to:
•Respond to the issue of falling pupil numbers. Ensuring that available places aligns closer with pupil numbers – in turn assisting with budget sustainability.
•Maintain the geographic spread of secondary schools in the city. Losing a school in the West, North, or East of the city would be a strategic mistake (future growth in population).
We have an aspiration for all secondary schools to be good or outstanding in all Ofsted areas. Currently, BACA and Longhill are rated ‘Requires Improvement’.
The council has not yet improved educational outcomes of FSM pupils as much as it would have liked.
Our objectives
•Improve the education offer for disadvantaged pupils by reducing some schools’ barriers to success.
•Use all available options to maintain a broad curriculum and holistic school experience for all pupils.
•Equality of outcomes – results not driven by economic advantage.
•Deliver a ‘comprehensive’ offer from our city schools as a more mixed pupil intake creates better outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
•To deliver change whilst ensuring a genuine alliance of city schools that considers the ‘city child’ and works in effective partnership.
Our Challenges
•Falling pupil numbers across the city.
•Disadvantaged pupils do not perform as well as other pupils in the city.
•The council does not control admission arrangements in all schools
•Financial challenge for some schools
•Journeys to school and associated costs
•Asset management
How
can you share your views
The PowerPoint presentation that accompanies this paper described three different models of PANs / catchment areas for secondary schools in the city. We want to hear your views on those. This will help inform our future thinking. This may lead to a proposal being formally consulted upon later in the Autumn of this year.
You can respond via the following ways
· •Your Voice link
· Emailing schoolorganisation@brighton-hove.gov.uk
· Attending one of our events (online or in person)
The questions we are asking are:
•Do you think that the Council should maintain thriving and sustainable schools in all areas of the city?
•Do you agree on a system that supports all children to achieve and thrive?
•Do you think that that larger schools should reduce in size to create a more balanced school offer?
•How much do you support the model proposed in Option A (amending existing arrangements)
•How much do you support the model proposed in Option B (creating 4 catchment areas)
•How much do you support the model proposed in Option C (creating single catchment areas)
Please give your views on how a change could impact different communities in the city?
Key dates and how you can respond
City wide engagement exercise: 2 - 23 Oct 2024
3 public meetings 8 Oct, 10 Oct & 16 Oct
· 8 October – Hove Town Hall - 18:30 start
· 10 October – Online Join the meeting now - 18:00 start
Meeting ID: 333 917 528 74 Passcode: Wf5Ad2
· 16 October – Online Join the meeting now - 18:00 start
· Meeting ID: 344 728 768 158 Passcode: SDqWe2
People Overview & Scrutiny: 9 Oct 2024, Hove Town Hall – 16:00 start
Consultation on Proposed Admission arrangements for September 2026
Cabinet: 14 Nov 2024
Formal consultation on admission arrangements Sept 2026: Nov 24 – Jan 25
Cabinet: 23 January 2025