Agenda item

(To receive a report from John O'Connor, Children's Service Manager – Education Support, which invites the Committee to consider a report on the selection of an operator for a new primary academy in North Hykeham (Final Decision) which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillors for Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services on 26 September 2014)

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee received a report which invited members to consider a report on the Selection of an operator for a new primary academy in North Hykeham (Final Decision) which was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services on 26 September 2014.

Marie-Claire Bretherton, the Executive Headteacher of Mount Street Academy was in attendance at the meeting, and gave a short presentation to the Committee in relation to their application to operate the new primary academy in North Hykeham. 

It was reported that four operators had put themselves forward for the application process, and the written submissions were assessed against a standard matrix.  All four met the minimum standards and went through to phase two of the selection process.  Following further evaluation, it was determined that Applicant A met all the required criteria and the evaluation panel wished to recommend them as the preferred operator to the Secretary of State.  The Committee was informed that Applicant A was a multi-academy trust and managed a portfolio of 21 Government funded schools in England. 

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report, and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         Concerns were raised regarding how the new school would impact on pupil numbers at the primary school in South Hykeham.  Members were reassured that there would be more than enough new pupils in the area to fill the capacity at both schools;

·         The school would open with only 30 reception children, and the school would then grow year on year;

·         It was noted that the proposal by the applicant was to name the new academy Manor Farm Academy, and it was queried whether there would be any intention to include farming related subjects in the curriculum.  Members were advised that this name was suggested as the land to be used for the development used to belong to the Manor Farm Estate.  It was also noted that learning about Lincolnshire and rural issues was also incorporated into the other two academies in Lincoln which were run by this applicant, and it was intended to continue this in the new academy;

·         Members were advised that in terms of staff numbers at the new school, there would be about 6/7 members of staff on site to begin with, but these staff would be supported by the staff from the other two established academies in Lincoln; 

·         The capital cost of the new school would be approximately £3.5m, and this would be partly funded by S106 agreement and the Basic Need Grant provided by the Education Funding Agency via the Local Authority.  The new school would be built from scratch on land that was currently empty, using a template developed by the Local Authority;

·         There was no reason to suspect that the birth rate would decline, and the need for school places in a particular area was based on existing birth rates;

·         Concerns were raised regarding whether the Trust was too big to operate this school, and members were advised that the new school would be operated as part of a cluster with the other two schools in Lincoln – Mount Street Academy and the Lincoln Carlton Academy.  This cluster would connect back to a larger national body.  Hubs were being developed around the country, and in Lincoln the Trust would be operating three schools that would work closely together;

·         It was noted that two schools operated by the Trust were in special measures, of these one was the Gleed School in Lincolnshire.  However, this school had just received very positive report;

·         The new school would be very much associated with both the Mount Street and Lincoln Carlton Academies.  One had already received an outstanding Ofsted inspection, and the other was expected to achieve an outstanding inspection;

·         The Executive Headteacher informed the Committee that she received a lot of support from the Trust;

·         Having a cluster of schools created opportunities for other colleagues to step up and lead which would be beneficial in terms of succession planning for Lincolnshire;

·         It was noted that the Education Director for the CfBT Schools Trust was based at the Carlton Academy;

·         It was requested whether in future more information could be provided in the report in relation to who the preferred operator was and their background in order to help the Committee make an informed decision.  The Committee commented that the presentation it received was very useful;

·         Concerns were raised regarding the location for the school on the proposed development, as it was thought important that a school should have a prominent position.   The Committee was reassured that the proposed location for the school was a good size and shape of plot of between 8-9 ha and it had a prominent position on the front of the main access road to the development.  It was also noted due to the size of the site that there would be room for future-proofing.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Committee supported the recommendations to the Executive Councillor as set out in the report;

2.    That the following comment be passed to the Executive Councillor:

·         The concerns regarding potential impact on pupil numbers at the primary school in South Hykeham.

·         The need for clarity in future reports regarding the proposed operator of new academies.