Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place that set out proposals to make prescribed alterations to establish a primary Broad Spectrum Special School co located at Whitley Abbey Primary School and to extend the existing age range of Whitley Abbey Primary School.

As part of its wider Inclusion and Special Needs Education (SEN) Strategy, the Council was seeking to establish a primary Broad Spectrum Special School by making prescribed alterations to Tiverton School. The School currently catered for children aged 3 to 11 who have severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. 

The school was opened in 1974 on its current site which it shared with Sherbourne Fields School.  The report indicated that, although the building was structurally sound, it was now exhibiting many elements beyond the end of their life expectancy, such as roofs, windows and heating system. An application for funding of £532k was submitted as part of the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme Phase 2 to address these issues but unfortunately this was not successful.

It was proposed that Tiverton School now be co-located with Whitley Abbey Primary School, through the redesignation, change in size and transfer of site In addition, it was proposed to extend the age range of Whitley Abbey Primary School from 4-11 years to 3-11 years.  This creation of the Broad Spectrum School and early years provision at Whitley Abbey Primary School would require formal statutory proposals to be considered by the Council in line with the requirements of the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) Regulations 2013, which included a requirement to consult with stakeholders.

The Cabinet noted that although there was no longer a requirement for a ‘pre-publication’ consultation period for prescribed alterations, there was a strong expectation on Local Authorities to consult interested parties in developing their proposal prior to publication as part of their duty under public law to act rationally and take into account all relevant considerations. As a consequence, consultation meetings were held during January 2016 with the Governing Bodies and headteachers of each school, who were supportive in principle, but acknowledged that staff, governors, parents and residents had raised a number of issues that would require further discussion. In addition, meetings were held separately at each school for staff, governors and parents. Notes from these consultation meetings were appended to the report and a verbal update was provided at the Cabinet meeting, to provide clarity on a number of issues raised at the consultation meetings. 

The report indicated that a clear majority of consultees were broadly in support of the move towards the provision of a Broad Spectrum Special School although a number of concerns were raised during the consultation meetings which would continue to be progressed by officers who would continue to consult as appropriate with all key stakeholders. Six written responses had been received in relation to the proposals and these were also appended to the report submitted.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:-

1)  Notes the proposal to make prescribed alterations to Tiverton School.

2)  Considered the responses to the recent pre-statutory consultation as set out in appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the report submitted.

3)  Authorises officers to issue the necessary Statutory Notices to make the following prescribed alterations:

Tiverton School:

·  Change designation from a school catering for children with severe learning difficulties, to the category of broad spectrum;

·  Increase the capacity from 42 to 88 places;

·  Co-locate the school with Whitley Abbey Primary School.

Whitley Abbey Primary School:

·  Extend the age range from 4-11 years to 3-11 years.

4)  Delegates authority to the Executive Director of People and Executive Director of Resources to finalise the details of the Statutory Notice.

5)  Agrees to receive a further report on the outcome of the statutory consultation at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 19^th April 2016.