PROPOSALTODISCONTINUESTANSTEDCHURCHOFENGLANDPRIMARYSCHOOL,MALTHOUSEROAD,SEVENOAKS,KENTTN157PH
Introduction
Noticeisgiveninaccordancewithsection15(1)oftheEducationandInspectionsAct2006thatKentCountyCouncilintendstodiscontinueStanstedChurchofEnglandPrimarySchool(CEPS),MalthouseRoad,avoluntarycontrolledschool,on31August2015.
TheLocalAuthoritywillworkcloselywithschoolsinthelocalitytoconsiderthebestwaytosecureappropriateeducationforchildreninotherlocalschools. Allpupilsonrollwillbeofferedasuitablealternativeschoolplaceasneartotheirhomeaspossible.
Thisproposalisnotrelatedtoanyotherproposalswhichhavebeen,orareabouttobepublished. Itwillnotbenecessarytobringforwardstatutoryproposalstoenlargeanyoftheschoolslistedinthisdocumentasaconsequenceofthisproposal.
Dueregardhasbeengiventothepresumptionagainstclosureofruralschoolsassetoutundersection15(4)oftheEducationandInspectionsAct2006.
ContactDetails
TheproposaltodiscontinueStanstedCEPSisbeingpublishedbyKentCountyCouncil,CountyHall,Maidstone,KentME141XQ. ContactNameandAddress:JaredNehra,AreaEducationOfficer(WestKent),SessionsHouse,CountyHall,Maidstone,ME141XQ.Tel:
03000412209
Implementation
ShouldtheCabinetMemberforEducationandHealthReformdecidethattheproposalcangoaheadStanstedChurchofEnglandSchool(CEPS)wouldcloseon31August2015.
Objectives(includingreasonforclosureofStanstedCEPSandhowthewiderproposalwouldincreaseeducationalstandards)
TheobjectiveofthisproposalistodiscontinueStanstedCEPS,MalthouseRoad,Stansted,Kent,TN157PHby31August2015.
ToensurethateverychildattendingStanstedCEPSorwhohasappliedforaplacesecuresaschoolplace,takingaccountofparentalpreferenceandtheindividualneedsofthechildrenwhilstoperatingwithinKCCpolicyandprocedures,inparticularregardtoadmissions,transportandsupportforpupilswithspecialeducationalneeds.
StanstedCEPSisasmallPrimaryschoolinthenorthofTonbridgeandMallingDistrictwithapublishedadmissionsnumber(PAN)of15pupilsandatotalcapacityof105pupils.Atthetimeofpublicationofthepublicconsultationonaproposaltoclosetheschool(January2015)therewere35pupilsonroll. Therearecurrently(May2015)twopupilsonroll.
StanstedCEPSwasinspectedbyOfstedon3rdJuly2013andplacedintoSpecialMeasures. WhenaschoolfailsitsOfstedinspectionitisdeemednottobeprovidingasatisfactoryeducationandthatleadership,includingGovernancehasnotbeenabletodeliveragoodlevelofeducationtoitspupils.
KCCputinplaceanInterimExecutiveBoard(IEB)inMay2014toreplacethegoverningbody,whichwasapprovedbytheSecretaryofStateforEducation.ThisfollowedaperiodinwhichtheGoverningBodywasprovidedwiththeopportunitytomakethenecessaryimprovementsfollowingtheunsatisfactoryOfstedinspection.
SincebeingplacedinSpecialMeasuresbyOfsted,StanstedCEPShasreceivedahighlevelofexternalsupportfromboththeLocalAuthorityandtheDioceseofRochester.ThisincludesbutisnotlimitedtosupportfrombothanEarlyYearsAdviserandSeniorEarlyYearsAdviser,supportandadvicefromtheLiteracyAdviserandaPrimaryImprovementAdviserprovidingfortnightlysupportvisits,adviceandguidance.TheadvisersworkedalongsidethethenInterimHeadteacherinmonitoringimprovementsintheschool’swork.
TheInterimHeadteacherandstaffatStanstedCEPSalsohadaccesstoawiderangeoftrainingandbriefingsandadditionalsupportprovidedbytheDioceseandotherlocalschools. KCChasalsoprovidedadditionalfundingtowardsthecostsofemployingteachingstaff.Everyefforthasbeenmadetoimprovethisschoolsothatparentswouldnotloseconfidence.
DespitesignificantexternalsupporttheschoolhadbeeninSpecialMeasuresforover18months. FollowingthefourthHMISection8monitoringvisitinDecember2014,whichfoundthattheschoolwasnotmakingreasonableprogresstowardstheremovalofSpecialMeasures,theCountyCouncil,theIEBforStanstedCEPSandtheDioceseofRochesteragreedtocommenceaconsultationonaproposaltocloseStanstedCEPS.
SchoolStandards
StanstedCEPSwasrequiredtoimprovethequalityofteachingsothatitistypicallygoodorbetterthroughtheschool;improveleadershipandmanagement;andimprovepupils’achievement,particularlyinwriting.Thereweresomeimprovementstothephonicsoutcomesforsixyearoldsinthepastyear,giventhatonly22%achievedthestandardthepreviousyear.However,followingthe2014NationalCurriculumassessmenttestsitwasclearthatStanstedCEPSpupilswerestillunder-achievingcomparedtopupilsnationally.
KeyStage1:attheendofYear2,thenumberofpupilsachievingtheexpectedlevelofachievement(Level2B+)wasconsiderablybelowthenationalaverageonallmeasures.Therewerenopupilsexceedingtheexpectedlevelofachievement(L3+).
KeyStage1L2B+ KeyStage1L3+
2014(All) / Stansted(%) / National
(%)
Reading / 28.6 / 80.6
Writing / 57.1 / 69.7
Maths / 71.4 / 79.9
KeyStage2:attheendofYear6,thenumberofpupilsachievingtheexpectedlevelofachievement(Level4+)wasconsiderablybelowthenationalaverageonallmeasures.Thenumberofpupilsexceedingtheexpectedlevelofachievement(L5+)wasalsoconsiderablybelowthenationalaverage.
KeyStage2L4+ KeyStage2L5
2014(All) / Stansted
(%) / National
(%)
Reading / 77.8 / 89
Writing / 55.6 / 85
Maths / 77.8 / 86
GPS / 55.6 / 76
When visiting schools in special measures, HMI judgements take into account the
progresstheschoolhasmadesincetheylastvisitedtheschool. Thiswillincludetheimpactofactionstakenbytheschooltodate,themostrecentdataonattainmentandprogressandtheschool’sownmonitoringofthequalityofteaching.
InmakingtheirjudgementonStanstedCEPSinDecember2014,HMIlookedattheschool’scapacityforsustainedimprovement.Inthiscase,HMIfeltthattheprogressmadebytheschoolwasnotsufficient. HMInotedthat“thereisverylittleevidencethatthecurrent group of children in Reception are making reasonable progress” and that“standardsremainedbelowaverageattheendofKeyStage2lastyear”. HMIalsonotedthedifficultyfacedbystaffwithteachingawiderangeofagesandabilities,andhowthisaffectedKeyStage2andReceptionchildren.
ThisNoticeprovidesdetailsofalternativeschoolplacesavailableinafivemileradiusofStanstedCEPSatthetimeofpublication.ThisdataindicatesthattherearespacesinallyeargroupsatschoolsratedbyOfstedasGoodorOutstanding.
Closureofaschoolisalwaysthelastresort;thisisparticularlythecasewithasmallPrimaryschoolinavillage. NeverthelesstheCountyCouncilhasamoralandlegaldutytoensurethatpupilsreceiveagoodstandardofeducation.StanstedCEPShasbeeninSpecial Measures formore than 18 months and is not making reasonable progresstowardstheschoolprovidingasatisfactoryqualityofeducation. ItisamatterofgreatregretthatStanstedCEPSpupilsarestillunder-achieving,whichisaconcernandcannotbeallowedtocontinue.
AlternativeOptions
ThelocalauthorityexploredthepossiblefederationofStanstedCEPSwithother,moresuccessfulschools.BasedontheprofessionaladviceoftheSeniorImprovementAdvisersforNorthandWestKentandtheDioceseofRochester,threelocalPrimaryschoolsandonesecondaryschoolwereapproachedaboutpossiblefederationwithStanstedCEPS.AlloftheschoolsapproacheddeclinedtoenterintodiscussionsaboutfederationandexpressedconcernsoverthefutureviabilityofStanstedCEPSonthebasisoflowpupilnumbers. TheIEBformallyapproachedtheDioceseofRochesteraboutthepossibilityofconvertingtheschooltoasponsoredacademyaspartofamulti-academytrust.ThiswasformallyruledoutbytheRochesterDiocesanBoardofEducation.
Pupilnumbersandadmissions
Pupilnumbershavebeenlowforsometime,andarenowsolowthattheschoolistoosmalltobeeffective.AtthetimeofpublicationStanstedCEPShasatotaloftwopupilsonroll.ThenumberofchildrenjoiningStanstedCEPSeachyearisverysmallandtheselownumbersarenotexpectedtoincrease. Pupilnumbershavereducedsignificantlyoverrecentyearsasexemplifiedinthetablebelow.
ReceptionYearPreferenceDataforStanstedCEPS:
Year / PAN / 1st / 2nd / 3rd / Total2015 / 15 / 2 / 7 / 3 / 12
2014 / 15 / 5 / 8 / 6 / 19
2013 / 15 / 8 / 3 / 6 / 17
2012 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 3 / 18
2011 / 12 / 13 / 13 / 5 / 31
2010 / 12 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 18
NumberofpupilsonRollatStanstedCEPS
Census / 2010-11 / 2011-12 / 2012-13 / 2013-14 / 2014-15Spring / 74 / 78 / 67 / 56 / 56
Autumn / 66 / 81 / 68 / 58 / 35
Themajorityofschools’fundingisbasedonpupilnumbersandadeclineinnumbersresultsinacorrespondingdeclineinfundsavailabletotheschool. Intheeventthattheschoolremainsopen,theschool’sbudgetwoulddecreasebyapproximately£70,000.ThescaleofthisreductionforStansted’s2015/16budgetwouldfurtheraffecttheschool’sabilitytodeliverthenecessaryimprovementsandtorecruitandretainstaff.Thisincreasestheconcernsovertheschool’sviability.
Displacedpupils
ThelocalauthorityrecognisesthatthisproposalhascausedconcerntoparentsandcarersandpupilsatStanstedCEPS. InordertoreducetheuncertaintyKCCapproachedschoolswithinthelocalitytoidentifywheretherewerevacanciesintherelevantyeargroups.TheAdmissionsCode(December2014)placesadutyuponthelocalauthoritytocollaboratewithschoolstosecureprovisionforpupilsintheareaintheeventofapotentialschoolclosure. Atthetimeofpublicationthereare464spacesinalternativesschoolsacrossallyeargroupsavailablewithinfivemilesofStanstedCEPS. ThereforeKCCdoesnotintendtoputforwardanyproposalstoincreasethenumberofschoolplacesinthelocalityasaconsequenceofthisproposal.
Schoolswithin3milesofStanstedCEPS,SourceDFEEdubaseSchool / District / Ofsted / PAN / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / R / Total
CulverstoneGreenPS / Gravesham / Good / 30 / 6 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 8
FawkhamCE(VC)PS / Sevenoaks / Good / 15 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
NewAshGreenPS / Sevenoaks / Good / 60 / 17 / 15 / 2 / 15 / 0 / 21 / 0 / 70
StGeorgesCE(VC)PS / TonbridgeMalling / Outstanding / 30 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 0
TrottiscliffeCE(VC)PS / TonbridgeMalling / Good / 12 / 4 / 7 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 15
VigoVillageSchool / Gravesham / Good / 45 / 5 / 1 / 3 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 4 / 16
WestKingsdownCE(VC)PS / Sevenoaks / RI / 60 / 16 / 24 / 22 / 29 / 19 / 11 / 23 / 144
Total / 49 / 47 / 28 / 46 / 23 / 32 / 33 / 258
Schoolswithin5milesofStanstedCEPS,Source:DfEEdubase
School / District / Ofsted / PAN / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / R / Total
TheAnthonyRoperPS / Sevenoaks / Good / 45 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
BoroughGreenPS / TonbridgeMalling / Good / 45 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2
HartleyPrimaryAcademy / Sevenoaks / N/A / 60 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
HortonKirbyCEPS / Sevenoaks / Good / 45 / 5 / 1 / 5 / 4 / 9 / 5 / 5 / 34
IghthamPS / TonbridgeMalling / Good / 30 / 3 / 5 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10
IsteadRisePS / Gravesham / Inadequate / 45 / 14 / 11 / 11 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 41
KemsingPS / Sevenoaks / Good / 30 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 2 / 9
LangafelCE(VC)PS / Dartford / Good / 45 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 6 / 10 / 3 / 12 / 36
OffhamPS / TonbridgeMalling / Good / 30 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
OurLadyofHartleyCPS / Sevenoaks / N/A / 30 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 4
PlattCE(VA)PS / TonbridgeMalling / RI / 26 / 7 / 13 / 8 / 20 / 2 / 6 / 13 / 69
Ryarsh / TonbridgeMalling / Outstanding / 30 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Total / 33 / 31 / 31 / 34 / 21 / 24 / 32 / 206
Note:Excludesindpendentschools
RuralSchoolDesignation
Dueregardhasbeengiventothepresumptionagainstclosureofruralschoolsassetoutundersection15(4)oftheEducationandInspectionsAct2006inthatKCChasexplored:
Alternativestoclosureincludingthepotentialforfederationwithanotherlocalschool,orconversiontoacademystatusandjoiningamulti-academytrust,orumbrellatrusttoincreasetheschool’sviability.
Thescopeforanextendedschooltoprovidelocalcommunityservicesandfacilitiesforfamilyandadultlearning,healthcareandcommunityinternetaccess;
Theavailabilityandcostoftransporttootherschools;and
Thelikelyeffectofclosureoftheschoolonthelocalcommunity.
TheLocalCommunity
ThefollowingschoolsarewithinathreemileradiusofStanstedCEPS:CulverstoneGreen(Community)School,VigoVillage(Community)School,FawkhamCEP(VoluntaryControlled)School,NewAshGreen(Community)School,WestKingsdownCE(VoluntaryControlled)PrimarySchool,St.George’s(VoluntaryControlled)School,TrottiscliffeCE(VoluntaryControlled)School(seetablesabove).
TheParishofStanstedhasavillagehallwhichiswithincloseproximityoftheschoolandlocalchurch. Communityactivitiesinvolvetheschoolthroughouttheyear.
StanstedSchoolbuildingandthesiteareownedbytheDioceseofRochester.TheplayingfieldsareownedbyStanstedParishCouncilandcurrentlyoccupiedunderlicencebyKCC.ThesiteisalsocurrentlyusedforcommunityfacilitiesforaweeklyPilatesclassandadhocprayergroup. Intheeventofschoolclosure,theDioceseofRochesterwouldconsidercurrentcommunityusageandthefutureusageoftheschoolbuildings.
KCC Officers considered the potential for an extended school offering additionalcommunitybasedfacilities.ItwastheviewofOfficersthatthiswouldnotsignificantlyincreasetheviabilityorpotentialincomegenerationoftheschoolanditwasacknowledgedthattheschoolisadjacentto thevillagehall,whichprovidesarangeof communityfacilities.
The views of the local community were expressed clearly through the consultationprocess,includingviewsoftheimpactofclosureonthevillage.TheseviewsweretakenintoaccountaspartofthedecisiontoproceedtoPublicNotice.AsummaryoffindingswaspresentedtotheEducationandYoungPeople’sServicesCabinetCommitteeandtheCabinetMemberforEducationandHealthReformwasprovidedwithcopiesofallresponsesprovided.
Balanceofdenominationalprovision
StanstedCEPShasareligiousdenominationunderSection18(4)oftheEducationand
InspectionsAct2006.
TheRochesterDiocesanBoardofEducationisawareoftheimpactofthe proposedclosureontheparentsandchildrenattendingtheschoolandrecognisesthesenseoflossespecially to a village community with a strong awareness of its local history. TheDiocesanBoardofEducationdoesnotseektocloseanyofitsChurchofEnglandschoolswithintheDiocese.Howeveritdoestakeitsresponsibilitiesforthequalityofeducationprovisionwithinitsschoolsveryseriously.Ithasalwaysstatedthatitwillactinthebest
interestsofthechildrenwhoattendthisschoolandforthisreasonandwitharealsenseofsadness,theDiocesanBoardofEducationhasgivenitsagreementfortheLocalAuthoritytomoveforwardwithpublishingaproposalforclosure.ForparentsspecificallywishingtheirchildrenbeeducatedataChurchofEnglandSchoolthereareotherschoolswithinathreemileradius(seeLocalCommunitysection).
AsindicatedinthedataofschoolspacesprovidedinthisNotice,therearecurrentlyvacantschoolplacesineachyeargroupatthealternativeChurchofEnglandschoolswithinathreemileradiusofStanstedCEPS.
MaintainedNursery– N/ASixthFormProvision– N/A
Specialeducationalneeds(SEN)provision
TherearecurrentlynopupilsonrollwithanEducation,HealthandCarePlan(EHCP)orequivalentstatementofSpecialEducationalNeeds(SEN).ShouldanEHCPorequivalentstatementofSENbeissuedbeforetheimplementationdate,thenthosepupilswouldhavetheirstatementsreviewedshouldtheproposaltocloseStanstedCEPSbeapproved. Anysuchpupilswouldbeofferedanalternativesuitableplace.
Anypotentialadverseimpactthatchildrenmayexperiencefromamovetoanewschoolwillbecounteredthroughcloseworkingwiththeschoolandparents/carersaroundtheirindividualneeds;closeliaisonwithreceivingschoolsaroundindividualneedsofchildrenandeducationalperformance;considerationofthatpupilsneeds.
Travel
AnassessmentwasundertakenofpotentialtransportcostsforthosepupilsthatremainatStanstedCEPS,inaccordancewithKentCountyCouncil’spublishedpolicies,withindividualcasesbeingconsideredontheirmerits.TraveldistanceshavenotbeenincludedinthisNoticeasitmaybepossibletoidentifyanindividualpupilastherearelessthanfivepupilsonroll.However,KCCbelievestheimpactontheuseofmotorvehicleswillbeminimalaslocalchildrenalreadychoosetotraveltootherschoolsinthewiderarea.Analysisofpupilscurrentlyonrollindicatesitislikelythatnopupilswillbeeligibletoreceivetransporttoschool.
Consultation
Allapplicablestatutoryrequirementstoconsultinrelationtothisproposalhavebeencompliedwithincludingthespecialrequirementsinrelationtothepresumptionagainstclosureofruralschoolsassetoutundersection15(4)oftheEducationandInspectionsAct2006.
ParentsofStanstedpupilswereinvitedtoaninformationmeetingon15Januarytohearourintentiontocommenceaconsultationontheproposaltoclosetheschool.TheparentsofanypupilswithanEducation,HealthandCarePlanorequivalentstatementofSpecialEducationalNeedsreceivedaspecificletterinvitingparentstohavediscussionswiththeirchild’sSENPlacementOfficer.
TheconsultationwascarriedoutbyKCCfrom16January2015to6March2015. AconsultationdocumentwasproducedtogetherwithanEqualityImpactAssessmentwhichcanbeobtainedfromKCC’swebsite. Theconsultationdocumentwasdistributedtostatutorystakeholders,includingbutnotlimitedtothefollowinggroups:
TheparentsofallpupilsattendingStanstedCEPS,staffandmembersoftheInterim
ExecutiveBoard
TheDepartmentforEducation
TheDioceseofRochester,CanterburyandSouthwark
ElectedMembers(KentCountyCouncil,TonbridgeandMallingBoroughandParish
Councils)
LocalMP
TradeUnions
LocalChildren’sCentresandpre-schoolproviders
SchoolsinTonbridgeandMallingandSevenoaksarea
NationalAssociationforSmallSchools
LocalLibrariesintheTonbridgeandMallingarea
KCCCommunityEngagementOfficer
AllstakeholderswereabletoaccesscopiesofthesedocumentsontheKCCwebsite. Anopportunitytosendinwrittenresponsesusingtheresponseform,emailandonlinewasprovided.DocumentscanbefoundonKCCconsultationwebsite:
Aconsultationmeetingforparentswasheldon4FebruaryatStanstedCEPS. AsummaryofthediscussionwasreportedtheEducationandYoungPeople’sServicesCabinetCommitteeon15April2015.Acopyofthereportcanbefoundat
StanstedParishCouncilcalledanExtraordinaryParishCouncilmeetingon26January
2014wherethefutureofStanstedCEPSwasdiscussed. KCCwereinattendanceincludingtheDirectorforEducationPlanningandAccess,theAreaEducationOfficerforWestKentandtheSeniorImprovementAdviserforWestKent.
Followingtheclosureoftheconsultationperiodatotalof85responseswerereceivedfrommembersofthepublicwhohavemultipleinterestsorinvolvementwiththeschoolincludingresponsesfromparentsandcarers,pupils,formerparents,formerpupils,currentandex-residentsofStanstedandFairseat,formergovernors,localboroughcouncillorsandanonymousresponses. AsummaryofwrittencommentsreceivedwereappendedtothereportwhichwenttotheEducationandYoungPeople’sServicescommitteeon15April
2015. Acopyofthereportcanbeobtainedfrom:
Projectcostsandindicationofhowthesewillbemet,includinghowlongtermvalueformoneywillbeachieved;
FinancialImplications
a) Capital–(Premises)StanstedCEPSbuildingandsiteisownedbytheDioceseofRochester. TheplayingfieldsareownedbyStanstedParishCouncilandcurrentlyoccupiedunderlicencebyKCC. Intheeventofschoolclosurethelicencetooccupytheplayingfieldswouldcease.KCChavebeenmadeawarethattheParishCouncilwouldnotpermitaccesstothesiteacrosstheirlandandnorwouldtheadjacentlandowner. Theestimatedcostofreinstatingthelandisapproximately£132,000.
Subjecttothedecisiontodiscontinuetheschool,KCCwouldenterintodiscussionswiththeDioceseofRochesterandStanstedParishCounciloverthefutureoftheschoolsiteandplayingfieldsrespectively.
b) Revenue-ThebudgetforStanstedCEPSfor2014/15wasbasedon59pupils.Intheeventthattheschoolremainedopen,thebudgetfor2015/16wouldbebasedon35pupils. Thiswouldresultinareductiontotheschool’sformuladelegatedbudgetofapproximately£70,000.
StanstedCEPSisfollowingthestandardrestructuringandredundancyprocedure. Inthe
eventofclosurestaffwithovertwoyears’servicewillbeeligibleforredundancypay.
Subjecttoadecisiontodiscontinuetheschool,thelocalauthoritywillworkwiththeIEBandInterimHeadteachertoensurethatanyresidualdelegatedbudgetandresourcesaresecuredforthebenefitofpupilsatlocalschools.
c) Transport costs - An analysis has been undertaken of the travel to schooldistancesforthoseschoolswhichhavebeenofferedasanalternativeplace,includingthepotentialimpactofeligibilityfortransportandlikelycostsimplicationstothelocalauthority.AtthetimeofpublicationnotransportcostimplicationstoKCCwereevident.
Theprocedureforresponses:support;objectionsandcomments
APublicNoticewaspublishedinalocalnewspaperon1May2015. ThenoticeisdisplayedatthemainentrancetotheschoolandpublishedonKCC’swebsite:
Withinfourweeksfromthedateofpublication,anypersonmaysendinaresponsesupporting,objectingorcommentingontheproposaltoJaredNehra,AreaEducationOfficer(WestKent),KentCountyCouncil,SessionsHouse,CountyHall,Maidstone
Tel: 03000 412209; or email . The final date forsendinginwrittenrepresentationsis29May2015.