Issue - items at meetings - New Junior Places in Hove and Portslade

Report of the Strategic Director, People (copy attached).

2.1       That Cabinet approves the undertaking of negotiations for the conversion of St Nicolas VA Junior School into a four form entry junior school and the expansion of St Peter’s Infant School into a one form entry Primary School for September 2013.

2.2       That the results of the negotiations be reported to the Cabinet in January 2012 for consideration.

2.3       That Cabinet approves the undertaking of further investigations on the options within this report for the provision of a 3 form entry junior element for Hove from September 2014, including exploring management opportunities of the options with primary head teachers in Hove.

2.4       That a further report be brought to Cabinet in January 2012 when the investigations have been concluded.

119.1          The Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Director, People concerning proposed options for the provision of three junior forms in Hove and Portslade.

119.2          Councillor Shanks announced that the council intended to set up a consultative group, including schools and all political groups, to consider options for the provision of junior places.

119.3          Councillor Robins reported that schools and parents in Portslade were concerned about the lack of urgency displayed by the council in seeking to address the problem. He asked why the availability of the industrial unit next to St Peters Infant School had not been confirmed and advised that proposals to expand St Nicholas VA Junior School were not popular locally. He urged the council to move quickly to find the best solution for children, parents and schools.

119.4          The Head of Capital Strategy & Development Planning confirmed that discussions were ongoing in relation to the industrial unit next to St Peters Infant School.

119.5          Councillor Mitchell stated that the council had no focused plan for the provision of junior school places and had not proposed any viable options. She advised that she shared concerns about free schools, but warned that it was necessary bid to create a new school in order to prevent the spread of free schools and transfer of education away from the council; she encouraged consideration of the co-operative trust model.

119.6          The Chair stated that the council was considering sites to accommodate the required junior provision, but added that the Administration did not support co-operative trust schools because they were a form of academy.

119.7          Councillor Shanks highlighted the importance of working on a cross-party basis with schools and. She stated that any new school created by the council would have to be an academy, which would take funding away from council and serve to privatise education in the city. She confirmed that consultation would begin immediately and that solutions would be determined by January 2012.

119.8          Councillor G Theobald urged the Cabinet to put the children first and commit to creating a new school in Hove. If available, he recommended Hove Police Station as the best option and stated that the council should be working with Sussex Police to secure the site.

119.9          Councillor Duncan confirmed that the council was an advanced stage in discussions with Sussex Police about the co-location of services at Hove Town Hall and the move was expected to take place in early 2012.

119.10      RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the following recommendations be accepted:

(1)         That Cabinet approves the undertaking of negotiations for the conversion of St Nicolas VA Junior School into a four form entry junior school and the expansion of St Peter’s Infant School into a one form entry Primary School for September 2013.

(2)         That the results of the negotiations be reported to the Cabinet in January 2012 for consideration.

(3)         That Cabinet approves the undertaking of further investigations on the options within this report for the provision of a 3 form entry junior element for Hove from September 2014, including exploring management opportunities of the options with primary head teachers in Hove.

(4)         That a further report be brought to Cabinet in January 2012 when the investigations have been concluded.