A strategy to transform Secondary education in Bath and North
East Somerset is to be considered by the Council.
Bath & North East Somerset Council will meet on 27 March to
discuss proposals which aim to further improve standards in
Secondary education and to provide the best possible opportunities
for children and young people.
The proposals affect the district’s 13 Secondary schools. They
are being put forward following extensive work which has seen the
Council engage with schools, governors, parents, pupils and the
wider community, to investigate the challenges and achievements
experienced by the schools and to then plan for the best possible
pattern of Secondary schooling for the future.
A key part of this work was undertaken by the Council’s Children
and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Panel through its
Secondary School Review, published last year.
Councillor Chris Watt, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services,
said: “Standards in our Secondary schools are high, our recent top
10 ranking at Key Stage 3 (age 14 level), and our consistently good
GCSE results clearly demonstrate this. These achievements should be
seen against a background of us receiving one of the lowest levels
of school funding from the Government.
"Our challenge is that our success reduces our chance of early
access to Government funds for building new secondary schools,
whilst we have excellent staff in our schools, the buildings are in
poor condition.
"This report to Bath & North East Somerset Council is the
result of a thorough review led by Councillors on the Children's
Overview and Scrutiny Panel. The recommendations are
challenging as no one likes to close schools. However, if we
are to give our children the best education that we can we need to
persuade the Government to invest in our schools and that
means removing excess capacity and focusing on the needs of
our own children. The new schools proposed here will enable
our children to excel in faciltities fit for the 21st century."
"The recommendations before the Council and Cabinet are based
upon a detailed and thorough review and I would like to place on
record my thanks to all of the members of the
Children's Overview and Scrutiny Panel who contributed, in
particular I would like to thank Councillors Andy Furse and Sally
Davis the former and present Chairs of the Panel for their
stewardship of the review which has been carried out in a fair,
transparent and inclusive manner.”
“Through making these tough decisions we place ourselves in a
better position to draw down the funds we need to build and
refurbish schools so that the buildings are fit for
purpose and help to deliver even better educational results for all
of our children and young people"
"These plans will make sure that the curriculum and
opportunities to learn that our children have are innovative, make
best use of the skills of our teachers and are delivered in 21st
century facilities.”
The Strategy sets out options for the future for each of the
areas of Bath and North East Somerset.
Proposals for each of the areas are as follows:
Keynsham and Chew Valley:
- It is proposed to consult on establishing one secondary school
for Keynsham based on the Wellsway school site. Keynsham is
currently served by two schools- Broadlands and Wellsway, however,
just 1,100 of the total 2,120 places are taken by Bath and North
East Somerset pupils, the remainder are filled by pupils from
Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The proposal would address this
issue.
- Subject to the outcome of any consultation on the possibility
of having a single school for Keynsham, consideration should be
given to consulting on the Whitchurch area of Bath and North
East Somerset being part of Chew Valley school area of prime
responsibility (catchment). This would meet parental demand and
reduce the number of places required in Keynsham.
Midsomer Norton and Radstock:
- No changes proposed for Midsomer Norton and Radstock however,
Writhlington is currently being rebuilt as a brand new
co-educational school due to open in 2010.
City of Bath:
- Retain Beechen Cliff School and Hayesfield Technology College
as single sex boys and girls 11-18 schools with co-educational post
16 provision.
- Retain St. Gregory’s Catholic College as an 11-16
co-educational Catholic school.
- Retain Ralph Allen as a co-educational 11-18 school.
- Consult on closing Culverhay and re-opening the school as a new
11-18 co-educational Community school or Academy on the current
site. This would address the issue of parental demand for a higher
number of coeducational places.
- Consult on the closure of St Mark’s Church of England and
Oldfield schools and opening a new 11-18 co-educational Church of
England school in the north of the city. The consultation
should determine the site for the school. This would address the
issue of parental demand, and also factors including the high
number of places at Oldfield School which are currently filled by
South Gloucestershire students.
Leaflets providing further details about the Strategy and the
options have been issued to schools.
The Council will continue to engage with members of the school
communities, parents, pupils and the wider community.
Anyone wishing to find out more can also view a copy of the
report due to be presented to the Council on March 27 at the
Council’s committee papers
online
