Elthorne Park High School FeedbackPre-Consultation Dates: 16th June 2014 - 14th July 2014
Background
Elthorne Park High School is proposing to introduce two additional forms of entry per year group, starting in September 2016. This would mean expanding the school from 900 to 1,200 pupils aged 11-16. An early consultation ran from the 16th June till the 14th July.A presentation was given to parents and residents on Monday 23rd June on the background and the proposal. Interested stakeholders were invited to meet the team from the school and the council, and to view early plans. The questionnaire that was circulated asked about the specific proposal to expand the school, views on the scheme to expand other high schools within the borough as a whole, and also for opinions on the proposal of adding an Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) for pupils with disabilities at the school. Please see below for the responses to these questionnaires.
Summary of results
The school received 74questionnaire responses. 72% of respondents stated that they agreed (‘strongly agreed’ and ‘agreed’) with the statement ‘I support the proposal’, whilst14% disagreed (See Table 2). Stakeholders were also asked if they supported the secondary school expansion programme overall, to which 74% said they ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ and 8% either ‘disagreed’ or ‘strongly disagreed’.Regarding the ARP, 71% either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that it should be introduced, and 9% disagreed (‘strongly disagreed’ and ‘disagreed’). The majority of responses came from parents/carers (78%), followed by local residents (19%).
Breakdown of responses by stakeholder groups
Table 1: Number and percentage of responses from stakeholder groups
Stakeholder / Number / PercentageParent / 58 / 78%
Staff / 9 / 12%
Resident / 14 / 19%
School Governor / 0 / 0%
Prospective Parent / 3 / 4%
1 respondent did not enter their status and so have been counted as “other” (1%)
*(Some respondents ticked more than one stakeholder category so the percentage column does not total 100%)
Analysis of survey question responses by stakeholder groups
All Stakeholders
Table 2: All stakeholders responses to questions regarding Elthorne Park High School expansion
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities for Elthornepupils / 22 / 30 / 26 / 35 / 11 / 15 / 4 / 5 / 5 / 7 / 4 / 5 / 65 / 12
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 35 / 47 / 28 / 38 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 85 / 8
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 33 / 45 / 30 / 41 / 4 / 5 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 86 / 7
I support the proposal / 25 / 34 / 28 / 38 / 7 / 9 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 1 / 1 / 72 / 14
Table 2.1: All stakeholders responses to questions regarding the expansion of other high schools
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities for Elthornepupils / 22 / 30 / 26 / 35 / 12 / 16 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 4 / 5 / 65 / 10
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 36 / 49 / 28 / 38 / 3 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 87 / 5
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 36 / 49 / 25 / 34 / 6 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 83 / 5
I support the proposal / 32 / 43 / 23 / 31 / 10 / 14 / 1 / 1 / 5 / 7 / 1 / 1 / 74 / 8
Looking at Table 2 and Table 2.1 combined, it is clear that there is strong support for both the proposal to specifically expand Elthorne Park and to expand other high schools in the borough; for every statement, the majority either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’. A significant majority (72%) either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with the proposal to expand Elthorne Park and a similar majority (74%) agreed with the proposal to expand other high schools in the borough.
Table 2.2: All stakeholders on proposal of ARP
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities for Elthornepupils / 29 / 39 / 27 / 36 / 7 / 9 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 75 / 8
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 34 / 46 / 25 / 34 / 5 / 7 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 1 / 80 / 9
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 34 / 46 / 23 / 31 / 6 / 8 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 3 / 4 / 77 / 8
I support the proposal / 29 / 39 / 24 / 32 / 10 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 7 / 9 / 3 / 4 / 71 / 9
With regards to the ARP, the majority of respondents either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with the statementssaying that it would ‘Improveeducational facilities’,‘Help meet the growing demand for schools places’ and ‘Offer more places to pupils within the area’. 71% of respondents agreed with the proposal to add an ARP at the school, compared with 9% who disagreed.
The following sections look at the questionnaire responses of the main stakeholder groups in greater detail;
Parents
Table 3: Parents responses to the proposal to expand Elthorne Park High School
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 15 / 26 / 22 / 38 / 8 / 14 / 4 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 64 / 14
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 28 / 48 / 23 / 40 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 88 / 6
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 27 / 47 / 23 / 40 / 3 / 5 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 87 / 6
I support the proposal / 17 / 29 / 24 / 41 / 7 / 12 / 2 / 3 / 6 / 10 / 1 / 2 / 70 / 13
Of the 74 respondents, 58 were parent/carers. For each statement, the majority of respondents either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’. 64% agreed that expanding the school would‘Improve educational facilities’ whilst14% either ‘disagreed’ or ‘strongly disagreed’. With regards to helping meet the growing demand for school places and offering more places to pupils in the area, over 80% of the respondents either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’. Overall, 70% of questionnaires from parent/carers showed that they supported the proposal to expand Elthorne Park High School, with 13% disagreeing.
Table 3.1: Parents responses to the questionnaire regarding expanding other High Schools in the Borough
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 16 / 28 / 21 / 36 / 9 / 16 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 64 / 10
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 30 / 52 / 21 / 36 / 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 88 / 5
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 29 / 50 / 21 / 36 / 3 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 86 / 5
I support the proposal / 25 / 43 / 18 / 31 / 8 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 7 / 1 / 2 / 74 / 7
Looking at the expansion programme of high schools in the borough, parents either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ with the statements that it will ‘Improve educational facilities’ (64%), ‘Help meet the growing demand for school places’ (88%), and ‘Offer more places to pupils in the area’ (86%). Overall,the proposal to expand other schools was also strongly supported; 74% of parents agreed with the proposal and 7% disagreed.
Table 3.2: Parents responses to proposal of ARP at Elthorne Park High School
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities for Elthornepupils / 22 / 38 / 23 / 40 / 6 / 10 / 3 / 5 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 78 / 8
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 27 / 47 / 20 / 34 / 5 / 9 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 81 / 10
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 27 / 47 / 19 / 33 / 5 / 9 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 7 / 1 / 2 / 80 / 10
I support the proposal / 22 / 38 / 20 / 34 / 8 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 6 / 10 / 1 / 2 / 72 / 10
With relation to the ARP, 72% agreed with the proposal to add one at Elthorne Park High School. All of the statements relating to the ARP were supported by a significant majority of parents who responded.
Staff
Table 4: Staff responses to the questionnaire for expanding Elthorne Park High School
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 6 / 67 / 3 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 6 / 67 / 3 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 5 / 56 / 4 / 44 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
I support the proposal / 6 / 67 / 3 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Nine respondents of the 74 were members of staff at the school. For every statement, all staff either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’. This also includes 100% support for the proposal to expand the school.
Looking at Table 4.1 below, all but one either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’that expansion would improve educational facilities, help to meet the growing demand for schools places and offer more places to pupils within the area. Again, all but one overall gave their support to the proposal to expand other schools in the borough, with none disagreeing.
Table 4.1: Staff responses to the questionnaire regarding expansions of other schools
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 5 / 56 / 3 / 33 / 1 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 89 / 0
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 5 / 56 / 3 / 33 / 1 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 89 / 0
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 5 / 56 / 3 / 33 / 1 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 89 / 0
I support the proposal / 5 / 56 / 3 / 33 / 1 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 89 / 0
Table 4.2: Staff responses on proposal for an ARP at Elthorne Park High School
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities for Elthornepupils / 6 / 67 / 2 / 22 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 11 / 89 / 0
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 6 / 67 / 3 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 6 / 67 / 2 / 22 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 11 / 89 / 0
I support the proposal / 5 / 56 / 3 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 11 / 89 / 0
Referring to the proposal for an ARP, all but one of the members of staff that took part in the questionnaire supported the introduction of an ARP,with one answering ‘don’t know’. No-one disagreed. The majority also agreed with the other statements with 100% agreeing with ‘Help meet the growing demand for school places’.
Residents
Table 5:Residents responses to the questionnaire regarding Elthorne Park High School expansion
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 2 / 14 / 5 / 36 / 5 / 36 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 50 / 14
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 6 / 43 / 6 / 43 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 86 / 14
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 6 / 43 / 6 / 43 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 86 / 7
I support the proposal / 4 / 29 / 5 / 36 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 21 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 65 / 28
Out of the 74 respondents, 14 identified themselves as local residents. Half of the 14 residents who took part in the questionnaire agreed with the statement ‘Improve educational facilities’, 86% agreed that expansion would‘Help meet the growing demand for school places’ and also that it would‘Offer more places to pupils within the area’. Overall, 65% agreed with the proposal to expand Elthorne Park with 28% of the 14 residents disagreeing.
Table 5.1:Residents responses to the questionnaire regarding other expansions in the borough
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 1 / 7 / 7 / 50 / 4 / 29 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 57 / 14
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 5 / 36 / 8 / 57 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 93 / 7
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 6 / 43 / 5 / 36 / 2 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 79 / 7
I support the proposal / 4 / 29 / 7 / 50 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 79 / 14
The 14 residents who took part in the questionnaire also offered their views on the expansion of other high schools in the borough. The majority agreed with all four statements - 79% agreed with the proposal to expand other high schools compared with 14% who disagreed.
Table 5.2: Residents views on proposal for an ARPat Elthorne Park High School
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 5 / 36 / 6 / 43 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 79 / 7
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 7 / 50 / 4 / 29 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 79 / 7
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 6 / 43 / 4 / 29 / 1 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 2 / 14 / 72 / 7
I support the proposal / 5 / 36 / 5 / 36 / 2 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 7 / 72 / 14
The proposal of adding an ARP to the school also had the majority of residents answering ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ (72%). Every other statement also saw support from over 70% of respondents.
Governors
No School Governors took part in the questionnaire.
Prospective Parents
Table 7: Prospective parent’s responses to the questionnaire regarding Elthorne Park High School expansion
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 1 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 33 / 1 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 33 / 33
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
I support the proposal / 2 / 67 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 33 / 1 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 67 / 33
Out of the three respondents who were prospective parents, all three answered they wanted to ‘Help meet the growing demand for school places’ as well as agreeing with offering more places to pupils living within the area. In terms of improving educational facilities, one agreed and one disagreed. Overall, two of the prospective parents supported the proposal to expand, whilst one did not.
Table 7.1: Prospective parent’s responses to questionnaire to expansions of other schools in the borough
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 1 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 33 / 1 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 33 / 33
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
I support the proposal / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
The responses to the second part of the questionnaire looking more generally at the expansions of other schools within the borough generated similar responses as it did for the questionnaire bespoke to the proposed expansion of Elthorne Park High School. All three of the prospective parents who took part in the questionnaire answered that they ‘strongly agree’ with helping meet the growing demand of school places, offering more places to pupils within the area and all three ‘strongly agreed’ with the proposal to expand other high schools within the borough.
Table 7.2:Prospective parent’sresponses to ARP proposal
Strongly Agree / % / Agree / % / Neither / % / Disagree / % / Strongly Disagree / % / Don’t Know / % / Total Agree% / Total Disagree
%
Improve educational facilities / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Help meet the growing demand for school places / 3 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
Offer more places to pupils within the area / 2 / 67 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 33 / 67 / 0
I support the proposal / 2 / 67 / 1 / 33 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 0
The proposal to add an ARP to the school had the support from the majority of prospective parents. All three agreed that it would improve educational facilities, and help to meet the growing demand for school places, and two of the three agreed that it would offer more places. Overall, all three either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ to the proposal relating to the ARP.
The one respondent counted as “other” said that they ‘strongly agreed’ with the proposal to expand Elthorne Park, ‘strongly agreed’ with the proposal to expand other schools in Ealing and also ‘strongly agreed’ with the proposal for an ARP at Elthorne Park.
Issues log
All Stakeholders
The most frequently raised issue focussed on the noise and disruption caused from construction of any new facility, with the concern about the impact the expansion could have on educational standards and the school environment; the concern was that a bigger school could mean a lower quality of education. It was suggested by respondents that the council should find new sites and build new schools rather than expanding existing ones. Issues were also raised around traffic and congestion levels, and possible parking problems. With an increase in pupils it was raised by respondents that there could be a strain placed on the school site; ‘practicality around space’if the school expanded and ensuring adequate play space were further concerns.
Table 8: All Issues raised by stakeholder groups during the consultation process
Concerns / suggestions / Build new schools/find new sites / Bigger school lower quality / Expand other schools / Play space / Space Practicality / Noise/Disruption/Construction / Parking/Traffic/Congestion / Format of consultation / Managing contractors / Against ARP / Non-ARP continued SEN supportNo. / 8 / 7 / 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
Conclusion and next steps
The results from the questionnaires show strongoverall support for the expansion of Elthorne Park High School, for the expansion of other high schools in the borough, and overall support for the addition of the ARP. The next step will be for the Head and Governors to consider these responses, and agree to proceed or not with the expansion. If the school and governing body agree to proceed then we will update parents and relevant stakeholders as the plans progress and timescales become clearer. The council would then work closely with the school throughout the planning, construction and handover of the new buildings. In the meantime, with the approval from governors, the council will post a statutory notice of expansion outside the school, in the local paper and on the Ealing Council website, and it will also be sent to other relevant stakeholders. Ealing Council will then make a decision about the proposal, first through Cabinet and then through the planning process. A further public consultation would be held as part of this planning process.
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