Bath & North East Somerset Council
MEETING:	Council Executive	PAPER NUMBER
DATE:	29th June 2005
TITLE:	A Review of Primary Schools in Bathavon	EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN REF:	E 1063
WARD:	All but particularly Bathavon North
AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM
List of attachments to this report: Appendix 1 - Final report of the Education, Youth, Culture & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Panel Appendix 2 - A Review of Primary Schools in North West Bath - A Discussion Paper

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 Falling rolls in schools are a national issue which is reflected in Bath & North East Somerset. Examination of the number of unfilled and potentially surplus places in schools can ensure that funding is directed to where it is most needed, to the benefit of all pupils. Reviews of the way in which schools are organised are therefore an important element of the Council's strategic management role. Regular examination of the supply of, and demand for, school places is essential in order to ensure that education is being delivered in the most effective way.

1.2 At September 2004 the Bathavon area has, using the Audit Commission method of calculation (see 4.4), 52 unfilled primary school places which represents 11.32% of capacity in the area.

2 RECOMMENDATION

The Council Executive is asked to:

2.1 Note the valuable work of the Education, Youth, Culture & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Panel (EYCL OSP) and consider their recommendations as set out in Appendix 1.

2.2 Agree that no organisational change is needed in this cluster

2.3 Agree that Batheaston C of E Primary School be invited to report to the O & S Panel in a year's time on the success of their arrangements for an extended school day to achieve increased non contact time for teaching staff.

2.4 Instruct officers to continue dialogue with the school governors with regard to the effective use of capital for the improvement of the buildings and open areas.

2.5 Instruct officers to discuss with the Diocese of Bath and Wells the options for improving the access to the school playing field.

2.6 Note the lack of an appropriate school hall at Bathford C of E Primary School and agree that the need for capital investment be considered in the context of the LEA's agreed Asset Management Plan priorities.

2.7 Note the scope for an imaginative development of the site of the old swimming pool at Bathampton Primary School and instruct officers to assist the governors in identifying options, costs and possible sources of capital funding.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report. The need for improvements in buildings identified by the Panel, particularly the need for new halls at Batheaston CofE Primary and Bathford Primary will be considered for inclusion in the Education Capital Programme within the context of the LEA's Asset Management Plan priorities, and subject to the availability of funding..

4 THE REPORT

4.1 At its meeting on 9 July 2003 the Council Executive adopted a School Organisation Plan (the Plan) for the period 2003-2008. At a meeting of the full Council on 17 July the Plan also received unanimous support and the Plan was finally approved by the School Organisation Committee (a body independent of the Council) on 22 July 2003.

4.2 The Plan included a new process for undertaking reviews of schools. This process was developed through work undertaken by the EYCL OSP who consulted widely and heard from a number of key stakeholders during the process. The Plan is on the Council website at: www.bathnes.gov.uk/SchoolOrgPlan/SchoolOrgPlan2003-2008/ContentsPage.htm

4.3 The Plan stated that those areas most in need of review were those which presented the highest number of unfilled, and thus potentially surplus, places. This work was completed during the 2003/04 academic year. At its meeting on 6 July 2004 the School Organisation Committee agreed that the Authority should continue the review process and complete reviews in the remaining areas of Bath and the adjoining planning area of Bathavon.

4.4 Members are invited to note that the method used by the Department for Education & Skills for calculating the numbers of unfilled places only takes into account the number of places unfilled at schools where capacity exceeds the number of children on roll. It does not take account of the deficit of places at schools.

4.5 An initial document was prepared and distributed to key stakeholders for `fact-checking' in April 2005. Following responses a number of corrections and clarifications were made and a further document was issued in May 2005. This document attached at Appendix 3 contained all the agreed facts, requests for clarification and correction, the LEA response to those requests and some draft conclusions drawn up by Officers.

4.6 The EYCL OSP organised a visit to each of the schools covered by this Review. The tour took place on 18th May 2005.

4.7 The revised document referred to in 4.5 was discussed at a specially arranged public meeting of the EYCL OSP, held on 23^rd May 2005. The meeting heard contributions or received written statements from schools covered by this Review plus other speakers.

4.8 The Panel reached their conclusions taking into account the views expressed at the public meeting and their observations of the schools during the tour.

4.9 The Panel presented their findings at a public session on 16^th June 2005. Members are asked to note the positive view of the Panel of the three schools regarding educational standards and the close links to their local communities.

4.10 The final report of the Panel is attached at Appendix 1 and Members are invited to note their recommendations.

5 RISK MANAGEMENT

5.1 A risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations has been undertaken, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

6 RATIONALE

6.1 The Panel were unanimously of the opinion that no re-organisation of the primary schools within the Bathavon cluster area was necessary or of need of any consideration within this review.

6.2 The Panel noted that all 3 schools were successful and achieved high standards. They are all closely linked to their local communities and are well supported by parents. They further noted that there had been very few admission appeals for these schools during the past 3 years indicating that parental choice is being satisfied in this cluster.

7 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

7.1 No other options were considered.

8 CONSULTATION

8.1 Consultation is outlined in the body of the report.

Contact person	Chris Kavanagh, Schools Capital &Organisation Team 01225 395149 chris_kavanagh@bathnes.gov.uk
Background papers	School Organisation Plan 2003 - 2008