BRIDGEND COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
REPORT TO CABINET
16 OCTOBER 2012
REPORT OF THE CORPORATE DIRECTOR - CHILDREN
SCHOOL MODERNISATION PROGRAMME: OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS ON A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL FOR COETY PRIMARY AT PARC DERWEN
1. Purpose of Report.
1.1 This report is to inform Cabinet of the outcome of informal consultation on a proposal to make a prescribed alteration to Coety Primary School in the form of an enlargement by building a new school on the Parc Derwen site and to seek approval to issue a Public Notice.
2. Connection to Corporate Improvement Plan / Other Corporate Priorities.
2.1 The school modernisation programme supports many of the corporate priorities and in particular:
· Young Voices
2.2 We aim to help all young people to thrive and make the best of their talents and, as part of this, there is a serious need to modernise our schools. Failure to do this has been identified as one of the highest risks facing the Council.
3. Background.
3.1 In September 2006, the Council set out 5 key principles to inform the organisation and modernisation of our schools.
1. Commitment to high standards and excellence in provision
2. Equality of opportunity, so that all pupils can access quality learning opportunities, regardless of which school they attend
3. Inclusive schools, which cater for the learning needs of all their pupils
4. Community focussed schools, where the school actively engages with its local community
5. Value for money
In the same report, the Policy and Planning Framework sets out 13 areas where the principles should be applied in practice. Those which are particularly relevant in the context of this report concern the size of primary schools (to ensure that “all Bridgend’s primary schools are large enough to make the full range of necessary provision”) and value for money, efficiency and effectiveness (“narrowing the gap between the most and the least expensive provision currently”).
3.2 On the 10th July 2012, Cabinet approved a recommendation to begin informal consultation on the proposal to increase the size of Coety Primary School by building a new school on the Parc Derwen development site.
3.3 Consultation events have been carried out between 3rd September and 3rd October with staff, governors, parents, pupils and the wider community. A copy of the consultation document was also available during this time on the Council’s website, inviting views and opinions to be submitted.
3.4 Two letters were received by the close of the consultation period.
3.5 This report outlines the responses to the consultation which were generally positive and seeks approval to continue the statutory process to the next stage.
4. Current situation / proposal.
4.1 The next stage of the process is to consult formally and issue a Public Notice which will last for a period of one month. During this time, anybody can object formally to the proposal in writing. If there are any objections to the proposal then those objections, along with the authority’s responses to them, will be sent to the Welsh Government within 2 weeks from the end of the notice period. The Minister will then make a decision on whether the proposal should go ahead.
4.2 If there are no objections during the Public Notice period, then the proposal can be implemented with Cabinet’s approval.
4.3 Key points from the consultation exercises are as follows, with a complete summary appended to the end of the report.
4.4 Those who attended the meeting were advised that views from both individuals and groups were welcomed.
4.5 The outcome of the staff meeting was very positive with a few concerns which can be taken on board and addressed should the proposal go ahead. It was pointed out that some parents had concerns but staff were keen to reassure them.
“Parents are worried about the ethos of the school. We have reassured parents that the school will have the same staff. It’s important for us to take that (the ethos) with us.”
4.6 The main concerns for staff were with regard to moving to a new school and there were questions about parent drop off, outdoor space, transition and how much of what the staff wanted could be incorporated in to the new school. Staff were reassured that this would all form part of further consultation and discussion once the outcome of the proposal is decided.
4.7 Some members of staff were worried that if the proposal was not taken forward, and a smaller new school was built for Parc Derwen, there would be a likelihood that the (Coety) school may suffer a reduction in numbers and would have to close.
4.8 The union representative added “It is nice to be part of a consultation that doesn’t affect staff. The only downside of large schools is there are fewer opportunities for headteacher and deputy headteacher positions. But this is a small price to pay.”
4.9 From the governing body meeting, there was no clear preference as to whether the proposal was supported or not, as they had not convened a prior meeting to discuss the proposal.
4.10 Governors asked questions on the logistics and how the size of the school was determined, which was explained. Some concern was expressed that there could be issues of overcrowding if Parc Derwen developed in the same way as Broadlands, but it was explained that the planning was capped at 1500 houses. This concern was also raised by parents.
4.11 The main concern of parents was the loss of a small school and the relocation of the school to a much bigger building and that this might result in a more impersonal approach. This concern was answered by members of staff who were present:
“We are going with the children; we will do exactly the same role as we have here. The ethos is important to us and we will take it with us. We will ensure that this is the same when we move.”
4.12 Parents raised questions about the facilities that would be provided as part of the new school and whether they would have any say. It was explained that a member of the team has responsibility to liaise with community groups to understand the needs of the area and that all suggestions would be welcomed.
4.13 Overall, parents felt that there were both advantages and disadvantages to the proposal and did not indicate either way whether they were for or against the proposal.
4.14 The School Council reported that they had consulted with their peers and that there was a general opinion very much in favour of the proposal. Several members of the school council said they were excited at the possibility of having a new school, although they did say there would be some sadness at leaving the current school behind. They thought that some parts of the existing school could be taken to the new site and a history area could be developed at the new school.
4.15 Questions raised by the School Council were mainly directed towards the process of moving to a new school should the proposal be implemented. Topics covered in the discussion were the size of classrooms, outdoor space, fields and green space, toilets, technology, safe routes, community use and sustainability. Pupils were excited at the possibility of being involved in the design stage should the proposal be implemented.
4.16 One of the letters received expressed concern that the closure of the school would ruin the village atmosphere and that there could be no guarantee that parents of children already at the school, especially those out of catchment who have chosen it because it is small, will want to move to the new, larger school. In fact, many pupils who live in the Coety Primary catchment area currently attend schools other than Coety Primary.
4.17 The other letter received questioned the formula used for determining the number of school places required from housing developments. The method used in Bridgend is reviewed on a regular basis and is considered to be reliable for our county borough. Our anticipated need for school places across the county borough is regularly reviewed, during which time we take into account any planned housing developments. It is important that we achieve the right balance and do not create surplus places in our schools. As it is not possible to predict exactly what the family sizes will be from the new developments, we are allowing for some flexibility through the use of temporary accommodation at Coychurch Primary School.
5. Effect upon Policy Framework and Procedure Rules.
5.1 There is no effect upon the policy framework or procedure rules.
6. EqualityImpact Assessment.
6.1 An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out now that the informal consultation stage has given stakeholders the opportunity to comment on any equality issues. There are no specific equalities issues arising. All new build schools are fully accessible.
7. Financial Implications.
7.1 The cost of the new school will be met from the S106 contributions from the developers of Parc Derwen and the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme, for which we have had approval in principle. We will progress the necessary business case procedures in line with Welsh Government requirements during the building development and design stages.
7.2 There will be increased revenue costs as schools are funded for premises related costs through the funding formula in accordance with their floor area and rateable value. A significantly larger school site will require additional funding for running costs, the total additional cost dependant on the rateable value of the new school. The increased costs will be controlled by phased commissioning of classroom facilities as the number on roll grows. However, any additional funding will be met from within the schools delegated budgets, from savings made as a result of other school modernisation projects.
8. Recommendations.
8.1 Cabinet is asked to note the outcomes of the consultations with the governing body, staff, parents, pupils and the community and that there is general support for the proposal to make a prescribed alteration to Coety Primary School in the form of an enlargement by building a new school on the Parc Derwen site to open in the summer term 2015. Cabinet is recommended to:
· approve progressing to the next stage of the statutory procedure which is to publish a Public Notice on the proposal and;
· approve the implementation of the proposal should there be no objections at the end of the Public Notice period or if there are any objections, the sending of the objections along with responses to them, to the Welsh Minister within 2 weeks of the closure of the Public Notice period.
Hilary Anthony
Corporate Director, Children
Contact Officer: Trevor Guy
Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Commissioning
Telephone: (01656) 642617
E-mail:
Postal Address Sunnyside
Bridgend,
CF31 4AR
Background documents
Council Report 13th September 2006: “LEARNING COMMUNITIES – SCHOOLS OF THE FUTURE – STRATEGY, PRINCIPLES, POLICY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK”Cabinet Report 12th December 2006: “Learning Communities: SCHOOLS OF THE FUTURE” – SCHOOL MODERNISATION PROPOSALS”
Cabinet report 26 May 2009: “SCHOOLS OF THE FUTURE – THE SCHOOL MODERNISATION PROGRAMME OVERVIEW AND PROGRESS”
Cabinet Report 2nd November 2010: “THE SCHOOL MODERNISATION PROGRAMME OVERVIEW AND BRIDGEND’S 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS’ STRATEGIC OUTLINE PROGRAMME SUBMISSION TO Welsh Assembly Government”
Cabinet report 21st February 2012: “SCHOOL MODERNISATION PROGRAMME: BRIDGEND’S 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS’ STRATEGIC OUTLINE PROGRAMME REVISED BAND A SUBMISSION TO Welsh Government”
Cabinet report 10th July 2012: “SCHOOL MODERNISATION PROGRAMME: PROPOSAL TO CONSULT ON A NEW SCHOOL FOR COETY PRIMARY AT PARC DERWEN”
Appendix A
Summary of consultation meetings
Questions/Issues from staff / Answer/CommentsAre the drop off points going to work? What about the infants who can’t be ‘dropped off’? / There will be some disadvantages, drop off points are planned for all new builds, it will be looked at more closely but we are aware of parking / traffic issues currently at Coety.
Would there be an undertaking for children to finish their education in Coychurch? / Yes wherever the children are, they will stay.
What about the ‘out the catchment’ boundary for Coety? We would want to avoid the Broadlands / Laleston situation. It will be difficult; catchment areas maybe should be revised. / We need to do more work on that, there is plenty of time for this.
The biggest issue will be parents not wanting kids to move from a small primary school to a big one. / This is understandable.
Parents are worried about ethos of the school. We have reassured parents that the school will have the same staff. It’s important for us to take that with us. / Noted.
Do you have any figures on the growth rate of Maes yr Haul? / We know from previous projects what kind of numbers to expect for a new build.
So we are definitely moving yes, but we are consulting on the size? / Yes.
If parents / governors object and the minister turns down the proposal, what happens? Staff are scared that a new school would open and this one would continue but be run down. / In my opinion, this would not happen, but if the proposal is turned down we will have to think again.