REPORT TO CABINET

24 MAY 2016

FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

(Meeting of 24 May 2016)

The Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committeeconsidered the Report of the Deputy Chief Executive, ‘Outcomes of Consultation on Proposals for the Ponteland Partnership’.

The Director of Education and Skills introduced the report, describing the background to the consultation process. The Committee were informed that in February, 2016, schools in the Partnership submitted requests to the Council to initiate a consultation on extending their age ranges; the requests were made following discussions in 2015 to try to agree the establishment of a Multi-academy Trust. An informal council consultation had also taken place in the autumn of 2015 on proposals to build three schools, a First, Middle and High on a new single site.

Given the uncertainty around the long term future caused by these various proposals, Cabinet on 16 March, supported by this Committee agreed that formal consultation was appropriate. A six week consultation period in accordance with statutory guidance concluded on 11 May.Mr Johnson reported the number of responses received and referred to the analysis in the report plusadditional evidence from the previous initiatives. The voluntary church schools and diocese decided to carry out a consultation in parallel.

The Committee were made aware that during the process, NCC discovered that the governors of Ponteland Middle School had applied and had been successful in gaining Academy status which in effect meant that the closure of Ponteland Middle School was no longer an option and would not be considered as part of the report.

The purpose of this meeting was to consider the outcomes of that consultation and to agree any recommendations for Cabinet.

In providing feedback from the various schools, and other stakeholders, the Committee learned that from the closing date of 11 May to date, Belsay First School and Stamfordham First School had reconsidered their response following consideration of the report and now support a change to primary schools. A similar decision has been made by Whalton First School.

Caroline Pryer, Headteacher of Ponteland Middle School addressed the Committee making the following points in favour of a 3 tier system:

  • Parentsat her school are complaining about the speed of the consultation, the absence of realistic educational or business justifications for the proposal, the lack of honest and open communication from NCC and some First Schools from the outset and throughout the consultation period, significantly there being no alternative proposals suggested despite obvious and potentially less costly alternatives and the fact that, despite reassurances from NCC that stakeholder, and specifically parent, views would be taken very seriously, NCC is proposing to disregard the weight of public opinion in Ponteland against the move to either 2 tier or hybrid 2/3 tier education;
  • Parents at her school want to keep 3 tiers; many invested in houses to get closer to the 3 tier schools, but they want to see their schools working more closely together. They do not want a risky and uncertain move to 2 tiers;
  • PCMS’s Academy order should be seen as an opportunity to do something innovative and progressive that will stand out nationally not as an obstacle.
  • A hybrid of 2/3 tier schools; with PCMS academy? This is complete nonsense from an educational prospective;
  • The PCMS governors want to build on 3 tier, develop a multi-Academy Trust and propose a free school SEND facility to compliment others already provided;
  • The overwhelming response from parents at her school and the community is total opposition to the proposed 2 tier system and closure of PCMS;
  • Reference was made to Guy Opperman MP’s blog that the wishes of parents had been ignored;
  • If the views of the parents of children at the affected schools are not given their due weight the process will be deemed invalid.

Lilian Harris, Headteacher of Belsay First School addressed the Committee making the following points in favour of a two tier system:

  • On 3rd May the Governing Body from Belsay met to discuss the 2/3-tier consultation for the Ponteland Partnership. Whilst most governors recognised the educational rationale in moving to a two tier system they were heavily influenced by the emotional pressure imposed by some vocal parents who predominantly have children in the transition years and the Governors felt unable to support the move to 2-tier unless this was adopted by other schools in the partnership as they were concerned about damaging relationships with parents;
  • Following a further meeting, and consideration of the outcomes of the consultation, the Governors voted,(one abstention),to ask NCC to recommend that Belsay First School should increase its age range to include years 5 and 6 and become a primary school;
  • Whilst this is a change from the original decision, the Governors believe it would be detrimental to the children’s education to not be part of a two-tier system and cited positive aspects of partnership working including: consistency of standards and marking, the Early Years network, aligningthe Ponteland Schools with the rest of the country and support of the governmental monitoring and assessment systems;
  • There will be a smoother transition to secondary school and pupils would have an additional two years to prepare and maximise GCSE outcomes
  • Completing the 4 years of key stage 2 at Belsay ensures continuity and progression of curriculum;
  • Shorter journey times for an additional two years;
  • Future proofing the school willaid sustainability of the rural community.

Claire McKinney, Headteacher of Stamfordham First School addressed the Committee making the following points in favour of a two tier system:

  • The Governing Body of Stamfordham First School met yesterday to discuss the report on the Outcomes of the Ponteland Partnership Consultation.
  • Given the hybrid 2/3-tier model recommended for the partnership and the subsequent decision by Belsay First School to recommend that it also becomes a primary school, the Governing Body felt it was in the best interests of the school, its pupils, staff and stakeholders and voted unanimously to recommend that Stamfordham First School should become a primary school.

Lynne Blain, Headteacher of Ponteland First School addressed the Committee making the following points in favour of a two tier system:

  • Schools work in a climate of continual improvement year on year and within a changing educational landscape over time. The comparable schools group is diminishing rapidly as there are fewer and fewer first schools against which performance can be compared. Inevitably there comes a point where change must be considered.
  • All schools in Ponteland are judged to be either good or outstanding, however progress data for the Ponteland Partnership between key stages 1 and 2 shows a need for concern and needs to be addressed regardless of the outcome of the consultation;
  • The 3 tier structure was established pre National Curriculum. We now work within a National Curriculum that is divided into a primary curriculum (Years 1 to 6) and a secondary curriculum (Year 7 onwards). Middle Schools currently do not deliver either in their entirety;
  • Reducing the number of transitions reduces disruption;
  • Peer support can increase confidence of younger pupils;
  • A single point of accountability will be evident for each key stage.
  • If we were to operate in a primary-secondary model then we would attract more applicants to fill any vacant teaching posts within our partnership
  • Educational outcomes for both current and future pupils are paramount.

Kieran McGrane, Headteacher of Ponteland High School addressed the Committee making the following points in favour of a two tier system:

  • The overwhelming view from staff, governors and the headteacher is that students benefit from spending their five years of compulsory secondary remaining in the same school;
  • the secondary school would benefit in three broad categories:
  • Ongoing relationships between students and tutors and pastoral leaders from years 7 to 11 provides the opportunity for individual needs to be identified and addressed. Whilst the school will be larger than at present, each year group will be smaller as the intake will reduce from 272 to 240.
  • Progress and outcomes: students will benefit from specialised teachers with recent experience of GCSE and A level teaching. Option choices will be less rushedand including year 7 and 8 within the school provides the opportunity to consider three-year GCSE courses starting in year 9. Reducing the number of school moves reduces ‘learning dips’ and 6th form students will be able to access relevant work experience within the school by supporting in year 7 and 8 lessons fostering a positive contact between students.
  • Continuity and consistency: The curriculum would be planned holistically offering clear progression across KS3 and KS4 and an agreed internal system of assessment can be developed to better track students across the whole of KS3 and KS4; this would ensure consistency across year groups and different subjects.
  • Such a move will align Ponteland schools with the vast majority of schools nationally and, by removing split key stages, increase accountability.

Local County Councillors addressed the Committee, making the following points:

Councillor Richard Dodd:

  • Whilst not against the hybrid model, had serious reservations about the process and suggested a further consultation take place;
  • All was well with the Ponteland partnership of schools until a 50 year investment proposal costing £55 m was announced.
  • The Council should re-consult on the hybrid model as it was not part of the proposals;
  • Concern about the speed of the consultation process;
  • The consultation process did not extend to leisure centre or library users who will clearly be affected by the proposals;
  • Traffic problems around a proposed new large campus needed to be addressed;
  • Detail was needed on proposed land use and the siting of new buildings.

Councillor Veronica Jones:

  • Felt ashamed at the consultation process;
  • The best educational outcomes for Ponteland were paramount;
  • Those schools that carried out full consultation voted for 3 tier whereas others voted for 2 tiers. The council decided to go with the 2 tier despite overwhelming opposition;
  • Expressed disappointment that Belsay and Stamfordham had changed their views;
  • Parental choice only applied in areas not reliant on public transport, therefore rural areas were disadvantaged.

Councillor Eileen Armstrong:

  • Shared the view that the consultation process was shameful;
  • Reference to several meetings with councillors was untrue. Only two had taken place.
  • County Councillors had not been consulted and Councillor Armstrong became aware of the proposals for 2 tier through the press.

The Director of Education and Skills responded to points raised by the speakers,

noting that:

  • The local authority cannot force schools to join a Multi Academy Trust;
  • The council was approached by the first schools to carry out a consultation;
  • The hybrid model or pure 3 tier must be considered as Ponteland Middle School will remain, albeit as an Academy;
  • The proposal for an exclusive 2 tier system was no longer possible
  • The hybrid model or an exclusive 3 tier system was forced by the granting of the Academy Order.

The Legal Services Manager advised that while it was a matter for members to consider whether further consultation should be carried out in respect of the hybrid option his view was that this was not necessary as it was always possible that this would come forward as an alternative model as a result of the original consultation and, in any event, further statutory consultation was still possible depending on the decision taken by Cabinet.

The Committee’s comments and recommendations to Cabinet are given below.

Mr. Dyson asked for clarity around Whalton First School’s decision. Ms Atkin responded that she had not spoken to the Governors but the headteacher had indicated the school wished to become a primary school.

Mr Payne expressed concern around ‘fragmented provision’ and emphasised that in such stringent times spending large amounts of money had to provide for better educational outcomes.

Mr. Lyst and Mr. Cunninghamexpressed concern that in a mixed system there was no guarantee of a place at Y9 if all places were taken by Y7 pupils. Mr Johnson confirmed this was true. He added that the Governments Academisation plans encouraged cross border working and encouraged local authorities to work with other local authorities to make this possible.

Councillor Murray commented that national aspirations could be changed and the council’s priority should lie with local aspirations and what was best for the children

Councillor Dale referred to the decisions of Stamfordham First School and Belsay First Schools now to become primary schools and moved an amendment to the proposed recommendations, duly seconded, that Cabinet amend paragraphs e and c to take account of this. This amendment was agreed by a vote of four for, two against and two abstentions.

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion incorporating the amendment. There voted 7 for, and 1 abstention, and it was thus:
RESOLVED that Cabinet be recommended to agree the recommendations subject to deleting reference to Belsay and Stamfordham First Schools in paragraph (e), and amending paragraph (c) to add that the age range of Belsay and Stamfordham First Schools be extended from age 4 to 9 to an age 4 to 11 primary school with effect from 1 September 2017.

COUNCILLOR B GALLACHER

CHAIRMAN

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