Issue - meetings

Small Schools Proposals

Meeting: 14/01/2020 - Cabinet (Item 29)

29 Proposals for reorganisation of rural and small schools in West Sussex (CAB10_19/20) pdf icon PDF 539 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved:

 

To support the proposals outlined in section 2 of the report going forward to:

 

1.    Consult on:

 

a)   Closure of Clapham and Patching C of E Primary School by September 2020 whilst continuing to discuss academisation proposals which the County Council will encourage and support. 

b)   Closure of Rumboldswhyke C of E Infant School effective September 2020.

c)    Relocation of Warninglid Primary School and the federation of the school by September 2021 (subject to developers progress).

d)   Closure of Stedham Primary School by September 2020, whilst continuing to encourage and assist the school in its discussion on federation, which if agreed by the end of the consultation period (16 March 2020), will result in the consultation ceasing. 

 

2.   Progress the Federation proposals for:

 

·         Compton and Up Marden C of E Primary School.

 

The call-in deadline is 23 January 2020.

Minutes:

29.1  Cabinet considered a report by Director of Education and Skills (copy appended to the signed minutes).

 

29.2  Mr Nigel Jupp, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, introduced the report and thanked the members of the public for attending.  He stated that alternative plans would be considered for those schools where closure was being proposed.  The proposed timescale would allow for any proposals to be published and implemented prior to the next academic year (September 2020).    

 

29.3  Mr David Barling, Chairman of Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee advised that the Committee had recommended that the consultation on the closure of schools be postponed.  Mr Barling suggested delaying the consultation by one month. 

 

29.4  Mr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group stated that his group felt the proposals were focused on finances and commented that details on the plans for the buildings following closure and any associated redundancy costs were not included in the report. 

 

29.5 Paul Wagstaff, Director of Education and Skills, highlighted that academisation proposals (Clapham and Patching C of E Primary School) would not be considered by the Regional Schools Commission until a decision was made on the school’s viability. 

 

29.6  Cabinet Members agreed that the County Council should support and assist the schools as much as possible to enable them to develop alternative plans. Cabinet Members confirmed that the proposals were being driven by the School Effectiveness Strategy.  

 

29.7  An amendment was moved by Mrs Urquhart and seconded by Mr Lanzer in regards to the recommendation for Clapham and Patching C of E School.  

 

‘Consult on: Closure of Clapham and Patching C of E Primary School by September 2020 whist continuing to discuss academisation proposals which the County Council will encourage and support.’

 

29.8  The amendment was agreed by the Cabinet. 

 

29.9  An amendment was moved by Mr Hunt and seconded by Mrs Jupp in regards to the recommendation for Stedham Primary School.

 

‘ Consult on: Closure of Stedham Primary School by September 2020, whilst continuing to encourage and assist the school in its discussion on federation which, if agreed by the end of the consultation period (16 March 2020), will result in the consultation ceasing.’

 

29.10  The amendment was agreed by the Cabinet. 

 

29.11  RESOLVED:  That Cabinet approves the proposals outlined in section 2 of the report going forward to:

 

1.     Consult on:

a)    Closure of Clapham and Patching C of E Primary School by September 2020 whilst continuing to discuss academisation proposals which the County Council will encourage and support. 

b)    Closure of Rumboldswhyke C of E Infant School effective September 2020.

c)    Relocation of Warninglid Primary School and the federation of the school by September 2021 (subject to developers progress).

d)    Closure of Stedham Primary School by September 2020, whilst continuing to encourage and assist the school in its discussion on federation, which if agreed by the end of the consultation period (16 March 2020), will result in the consultation ceasing. 

 

2.    Progress the Federation proposals for:

·         Compton and Up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29