Issue - items at meetings - Proposed Temporary Expansion of Goldstone, Westdene, Queens Park and Connaught

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

2.1       That Cabinet agrees that officers should consult formally with Queens Park Primary School, Goldstone Primary School, Westdene Primary School and West Hove Infant School (Connaught Building) regarding each school taking an additional reception class in September 2012.

2.2       That Cabinet agrees that officers should consult other schools in the city regarding the proposal in 2.1.

2.3       Following the Consultation officers will report back to Cabinet in January 2012

118.1          The Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Director, People concerning options for creating additional reception classes for September 2012 and specifically the proposed temporary expansion of Goldstone, Westdene, Queens Park and Connaught Schools.

118.2          Councillor Janio advised that governors at Goldstone Primary School were against the proposals and had serious concerns about the logistics of admitting extra children, particularly as the school could not host any temporary classrooms; an extra class would put a strain on infrastructure and take resources away from existing pupils. He stated that it was time for the council to consider free schools as a solution to the city’s school places problem.

118.3          Councillor Shanks stated that free schools were not a solution because they would not necessarily be set up in the areas where places were needed.

118.4          The Strategic Commissioner, Planning & Contracts explained that the data had shown a significant increase in children for 2012-13 and that the problem related to the location of those children; the council sought to provide places at local schools rather than directing children across the city where spaces existed. He advised that permanent new accommodation had been built at a number of schools in anticipation of increasing numbers and that it was proposed to use these classrooms to accommodate the bulge in the next academic year. As the new classrooms filled up with their natural intake there would be a need to house the additional classes in temporary classrooms or consider using non-teaching space within the schools.

118.5          Councillor A Norman stated that teaching staff would make the best of any situation imposed on them, but advised that the four schools in question had been informed about the bulge late in the day, giving them less time to consider the proposals. She was concerned that highlighting the council’s ability to impose arrangements on schools was not a positive way to approach a consultation process.

118.6          Councillor Duncan advised that free schools made it more difficult for the council to plan education provision effectively. The Administration did not want to see too much education transfer away from the council’s control.

118.7          Councillor G Theobald stated that free schools would relieve the effect of the bulge on council-run schools. He echoed concerns about imposing arrangements on schools and the use of temporary classrooms.

118.8          The Chair advised that officers would continue to monitor the data and confirmed that consultation would take place; however, places would have to found somewhere.

118.9          Councillor Mitchell acknowledged that the schools had already agreed to expand and were now being asked to accommodate even more children, which would be a challenge logistically. She noted with disappointment the need to use temporary classrooms as the extra class moved through the schools and questioned the potential impact of the creating additional sibling links.

118.10      Councillor Shanks advised that there it was difficult to predict the number of places offered on the basis of sibling link, but that there was no intention to remove it from the admissions arrangements. She stated that the council had a responsibility to provide places and aimed to provide them in the areas where they were required. It was not possible to create a new school so the council was seeking to expand existing successful schools and provide resources for the additional children.

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

(1)         That Cabinet agrees that officers should consult formally with Queens Park Primary School, Goldstone Primary School, Westdene Primary School and West Hove Infant School (Connaught Building) regarding each school taking an additional reception class in September 2012.

(2)         That Cabinet agrees that officers should consult other schools in the city regarding the proposal in (1).

(3)         Following the Consultation officers will report back to Cabinet in January 2012