Agenda item - Moulsecoomb Primary School

Proposed by Councillor Grimshaw on behalf of the Labour and Green Groups.

132.1      The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Grimshaw on behalf of the Labour and Green Groups and formally seconded by Councillor Clare.

132.2      Councillor Knight spoke in favour of the motion.

132.3      The Mayor then put the following motion the vote:

              This Council notes;

1)  The Regional Schools Commissioners (RSC) Office has identified three trusts as potential academy sponsors for Moulsecoomb Primary;

2)  An academy sponsor is due to be appointed by the RSC at a meeting on 25 March;

3)  The trajectory of improvement Moulsecoomb Primary is on, following the 2019 ‘inadequate’ Ofsted judgement;

4)  The recent Ofsted monitoring visit reporting that effective action is being taken with the school’s improvement plan described as ‘fit for purpose’;

5)  The overwhelming support for keeping Moulsecoomb Primary within local authority control, with a ballot showing 96% of parents were opposed to academisation;

This Council therefore:

1)  Reaffirms its commitment to stand by parents, staff, unions and community in opposing the forced academisation of Moulsecoomb Primary, as there should be no academisation without community consent;

2)  Requests the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Education, urging them to revoke the academisation order on Moulsecoomb Primary and requesting an urgent reinspection to enable the school to demonstrate its ongoing journey of improvement;

3)  Requests the Chair of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee to call a special meeting to consider the needto conduct a further urgent ballot of parents and carers of children at Moulsecoomb Primary on whether they are in favour or oppose the forced conversion of the school to an academy trust selected by the RSC; and

4)  Requests the Council’s School Improvements team continue to support the school on its journey to being a ‘Good’ school.

132.4      The Mayor then called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn followed by each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Green Group Members;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Labour Group Members;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative wished to abstain from voting on the motion and this was confirmed by the Conservative Group Members;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting for the motion;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she wished to abstain from voting on the motion;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the motion;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting for the motion.

132.5      The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried.