Issue - items at meetings - Permanent arrangements for the management of Connaught Infant school

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

2.1       That Cabinet agrees that West Hove Infant School manage the Connaught Building permanently from September 2012.

117.1          The Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Director, People concerning the permanent arrangements for management of Connaught Infant School.

117.2          Councillor Mitchell advised that while she was pleased the classrooms were operating well and that the school had been popular in the recent admissions process, the decision to create an infant school had been taken without any thought about how the corresponding junior places would be provided.

117.3          Councillor Shanks explained that it was difficult to determine the council’s approach to provision of new school places because the Government had stipulated that any new school would have to be a free school or an academy, both of which the Administration was opposed to. She reported that the Government had made additional funding available and that options were being considered.

117.4          Councillor G Theobald welcomed the decision to make the site a permanent school, but asked what would happen if the governors of West Hove School, who were managing the school on a satellite basis, did not approve the arrangements.

117.5          The Strategic Director, People explained that he was able to direct the school to continue the arrangements if necessary, but that opposition was unlikely as the governors had already agreed in principle.

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

(1)         That Cabinet agrees that West Hove Infant School manage the Connaught Building permanently from September 2012.