Agenda item

(To receive a report from Matthew Clayton, Admissions and Education Provision Manager, regarding the proposal to amend the age ranges of Grainthorpe Primary and Marshchapel Primary Schools (Final Decision), which will be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 23 March 2018)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services, which invited the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on a proposal to amend the age ranges of Grainthorpe Primary School and Marshchapel Primary School (Final Decision) and agree any additional comments to be passed onto the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services.

The Chairman advised that the item was for pre-decision scrutiny prior to being considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 23 March 2018.

A copy of the full report to the Executive Councillor was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 

Heather Sandy, Chief Commissioning Officer - Learning introduced the report and advised the Committee that Lincolnshire County Council had a statutory duty to ensure that there were sufficient school places within its area to accommodate all pupils of statutory school age who lived in Lincolnshire.  The Council was also committed to supporting the viability of small rural primary schools where a viable structural solution could be found.

It was reported that the proposal was to change Marshchapel Primary School from an age range of 4 to 11 to an infant school with an age range of 3 to 7 (to formally include Early Years provision) and the proposal for Grainthorpe Primary School was to permanently change it from an age range of 4 to 11 to a junior school with an age range of 7 to 11.  It was noted that the proposed implementation date was 1 September 2018.  It was highlighted that the two schools would remain separate schools but in a hard federation with one Governing Body and one executive Head.  It was highlighted further that North Cotes CE Primary School was currently also part of the Fenlands Federation with Marshchapel and Grainthorpe, and would remain as a 4 – 11 school; and was not part of the proposal.

The Committee was advised that the Authority felt that the proposal was the best option to address the expected and existing low pupil numbers across the area to ensure that both schools had the best opportunity for an educationally and financially sustainable future and to enable high quality teaching to take place.

It was reported that on 25 September 2017 a five week consultation had commenced, which had closed on 6 November 2017; a summary of written responses received was attached to the report at Appendix A.

It was highlighted that current and projected pupil numbers for Marshchapel and Grainthorpe indicated that there were sufficient numbers to operate a successful infant school and junior model in the medium term, but not enough to maintain two standalone primary schools with a broad and balanced curriculum delivering consistently high quality education to all age groups.  The Committee was advised that the model had already been successfully trialled across the federation with some year groups (Years 5 and 6) at Grainthorpe, this had received positive feedback from pupils, parents and staff, with Grainthorpe recently being graded Good by Ofsted.  Tables at the bottom of page 20 of the report provided the Committee with how the numbers would look if the proposals were implemented.

The following Appendices were attached to the report for the Committee's consideration:-

·         Appendix A – Summary of written consultation responses;

·         Appendix B – Statutory Notice;

·         Appendix C – Complete Proposal; and

·         Appendix D – Question and Answer Document.

The Chairman invited the Electoral Division Member for Saltfleet and the Cotes, Councillor D McNally to comment on the proposal.  Councillor McNally advised that he fully supported the proposals as detailed in the report and recognised the importance of schools to communities, and he was pleased to see a plan that would allow the two schools to remain open.  One comment raised by Councillor McNally was the need to ensure that start and finish times were staggered at both schools to allow plenty of time for pupils to be dropped off and picked up.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·         Concerns were raised about whether it was economically efficient to keep both schools open. It was confirmed that this was an economically viable option.  If Grainthorpe Primary School was closed, Marshchapel Primary School might not be able to take all the pupils and therefore some of the pupils would have to travel to other schools.  In addition, it was noted that the Local Authority policy was to avoid the closure of schools wherever possible;

·         Most members agreed that the proposal was the best solution to maintain the viability of both schools, and it was suggested that the model could be used for other small schools in difficulty in the future;

·         It was queried what the ongoing transport costs would be taking the children to both schools.  It was confirmed that if every child who qualified for free transport took it up, the total cost would be £62,000 per year; and

·         It was also queried whether the lack of a guarantee of a place for Year 2's moving up to the junior school would become problematic in the future.  It was noted that the school could give a higher priority to certain feeder schools in its Admission Policy which would mitigate the issue, but it was not envisaged that there would be a problem in the future.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Committee unanimously supported the recommendations contained in the report.

2.    The Committee requested that the following comments be passed onto the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services prior to making a decision on 23 March 2018.

o   Concerns were raised about whether it was economically efficient to keep both schools open. It was confirmed that this was an economically viable option.  If Grainthorpe Primary School was closed, Marshchapel Primary School might not be able to take all the pupils and therefore some of the pupils would have to travel to other schools.  In addition, it was noted that the Local Authority policy was to avoid the closure of schools wherever possible;

o   It was agreed that the proposal was the best solution to maintain the viability of both schools, and it was suggested that the model could be used for other small schools in difficulty in the future;

o   It was queried what the ongoing transport costs would be taking the children to both schools.  It was confirmed that if every child who qualified for free transport took it up, the total cost would be £62,000 per year;

o   It was queried whether the lack of a guarantee of a place for Year 2's moving up to the junior school would become problematic in the future.  It was noted that the school could give a higher priority to certain feeder schools in its Admission Policy which would mitigate the issue, but it was not envisaged that there would be a problem in the future;

o   Councillor Daniel McNally, the local councillor, attended the meeting. He made a short statement to the Committee fully supporting the plan, and recognising the importance of schools to local communities, was pleased to see the plan would allow the two schools to stay open.