A Discussion Paper 

WHY ARE WE REVIEWING THIS AREA?

All primary schools in Bath & North East Somerset are to be reviewed over the four years between September 2003 and July 2007. Each school will initially be reviewed alongside its partner schools in a geographical area. At the end of each Area Review elected Councillors may decide that some changes (school closures, new schools, enlarging schools etc.) appear to be necessary and initiate a further consultation process focussing on the school(s) affected. It is equally possible that Councillors may simply acknowledge that the pattern of school provision is working effectively and that no changes are required in the short or medium-term.

The process to be followed when undertaking an Area Review has been the subject of wide and lengthy consultation. It was finally approved by the School Organisation Committee (a body independent of the Council) on 22 July 2003.

The schools named below are considered in this Review.

• Bathampton Primary  School
• Batheaston CofE Primary School
• Bathford CofE Primary School

INTRODUCTION

The first stage of the Review involves the gathering of information on the following:-

• current numbers on roll (update January 05 Plasc )
• historical numbers on roll (1999-2004)
• anticipated numbers of children in the area (2005 and beyond)
• levels of recruitment against Standard Number / Planned Admission Number
• unit cost per pupil
• home addresses of pupils on roll
• level of surplus or deficit of places
• levels of educational achievement

On 26 April 2005, a draft version of this document was circulated to the Headteacher of each school covered by the Review.

On 9th May 2005 a revised version containing amendments, clarifications of facts and some initial conclusions was issued to the Headteacher and Chair of Governors of each school covered by the Review, the Headteacher and Chair of Governors of the secondary schools serving Bath, senior officers of the Education Service, the Bath & Wells Diocesan Board of Education, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton and Councillors representing the wards in which the schools are located. The document was also circulated to members of the Education, Youth, Culture & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Panel in order to inform their discussions prior to the public meeting to be held on 23 May 2005.

School Organisation Plan

Each school has been assessed against policies, established through the School Organisation Plan, regarding school size. The School Organisation Plan states that;

• Infant and junior schools should be at least one form of entry and a maximum of three with a standard number between 30 and 90.
• No infant school should have 60 or fewer children on roll.
• No junior school should have 90 or fewer children on roll.
• Urban/suburban primary schools should be at least one form of entry and a maximum of two with a standard number between 30 and 60.
• No urban/suburban primary school should have fewer than 180 children on roll.
• The maximum desirable size for an all through primary school is 420 pupils.
• At September 2004 all schools meet the criteria regarding planned admission number and size.

Information provided to the SOP in July 2004 indicated the area had a relatively high level of unfilled places with most of these being at one school.  A planned housing development has received outline planning permission.  The possibility of this development means that it may be necessary to provide additional capacity during the lifetime of the Plan.  In view of this it is proposed that this area be reviewed in the next round of reviews. 

The School Organisation Plan agreed on 17 July 2001 stated that “the LEA’s preferred option for school organisation at Key Stages 1 and 2 is all-through primary schools. This also includes the Foundation Stage in nursery and reception classes.” All three schools covered by this Review are all-through primary schools. No school operates a nursery class.

Of the three schools covered by this Review two are Church schools. Any changes in the area may result in a change in the proportion of denominational places in Bath & North East Somerset and if such changes reduced the proportion of denominational places this would require the support of the relevant Diocese. At present, approximately 54% of primary school places in Bath & North East Somerset are in Church schools. In the Bathavon area the percentage is 75%.

All schools have also been assessed under the Authority’s Asset Management Plan (AMP). The AMP is concerned with the Condition, Suitability and Sufficiency of schools. The Key Data sheets at the back of the document show the position at these schools in relation to the AMP headings

The Context

A map showing the location of the schools is attached. A wide area map showing where pupils live is also attached. For legal reasons it is necessary to state that the maps have been reproduced from the Ordnance Survey with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Ó Crown Copyright under License Number 100023334.

Population data from the Primary Care Trust shows the position at March 2004 in the wards in which these schools are located.

Levels of Educational Achievement

There are various measures of educational performance. Simple examination of headline results may not reveal the success (or otherwise) of a school.  

Care must be taken when analysing results of small year groups and making comparisons with schools that are significantly different in size.  In small schools one pupil can have a very marked effect on the percentage figures. OFSTED makes the following statement:

Timescales and Consultation

The Overview & Scrutiny Panel will hold a public meeting to hear contributions from invited stakeholders. This will take place on 23 May 2005 at the Brunswick Room, Guildhall, Bath beginning at 5.00 p.m.

A meeting is to be arranged for Bath & North East Somerset Councillors representing the relevant wards.

The document will be further considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (OSP) at its meeting on 16th June 2005.

The final paper will be considered by the Council Executive which meets at the Guildhall, Bath on 29 June 2005.

KEY DATA

• Numbers on Roll, Forecasts & Surplus Places (Sufficiency 1)
• Level of Recruitment against Standard Number
• Financial Information
• Outstanding Planned Maintenance (Condition)
• Site and Building Areas (Sufficiency 2)
• Educational Standards
• Suitability

 Data Sets

Numbers on Roll, Forecasts & Surplus Places

Notes

PAN means Planned Admission Number. This figure equates to the number of pupils the school must admit if demand exists. PAN replaced Standard Number for admissions from September 2004.

Net Capacity is the physical capacity of the school and shows the number of places available. It is derived from a DfES formula.

Surplus places mean unfilled places. Not all unfilled places are surplus. The calculation of surplus places takes account only of those schools where the number of pupils is fewer than the number of places available. Shortfalls of places in schools are not counted.

The purpose of showing the average number on roll over the five years previous to 2004/05 is to ensure that an unusual variation in admissions in one year does not provide a distorted picture.

Forecast numbers for individual schools are not included. It can be seen that the total number on roll at September 2004 is 110% of that at September 1999.  Forecasts indicate that by September 2007 the total number on roll will be 92% of the 1999 figure.

An increase in surplus places is predicted but the Bailbrook housing development needs to be borne in mind.

Population Data – Bathavon

Source : B&NES Primary Care Trust

Data valid as at March 2004

Numbers of children in this area show some periodic fluctuation but overall there is little indication that the number of unfilled spaces will increase or decrease significantly.    

Levels of Recruitment against Standard Number / Planned Admission Number

Notes

Levels of recruitment are shown as percentages as changes to Standard Number were implemented at several schools

over the period September 1997 to September 2002. This was often as a result of the infant class size legislation.

Standard Number (SN) was abolished from September 2004 and replaced by Planned Admission Number (PAN)