This paper sets out a series of draft proposals for the implementation of the new Shropshire  Primary School Organisation policy and requests Cabinet to commission consultation on the proposals.

That cabinet requests the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services to consult on the proposals for review of individual schools set out in appendix A, in line with the Council’s Primary School Organisation Policy and Stages 4 and 5 of the procedure for school organisational review.

On 14 December 2007, Council adopted a new Vision and School Organisation Policy for primary schools. Officers have now undertaken a series of assignments to apply the new

policy to the network of primary schools. The process of application of the policy is set out below. The results of this process were shared with the Lead Member for Children and Young People's Services, in line with Stage 1 of the process for consideration of school organisation proposals. The Lead Member authorised further investigation (Stage 2) and received a report on the outcome of these investigations (Stage 3), following which this report was prepared.

The new School Organisation Policy is expressed as a series of statements covering access to education, sustainability of the school network, continuity of education, diversity of

provision, inclusive education and access to other children’s services. The application of the policy was structured on the same basis. This took the form of starting with the full list of

primary schools and looking at each policy statement in turn as a series of filters to reach a list of schools which require more detailed review.

2.1 Access to Education – Filters 1 and 2

The following schools were filtered out of consideration at the first stage because their position as large schools in towns mean that they were overwhelmingly likely to meet both the criteria for access and sustainability criteria.

Table: Filter 1

The following schools are currently required to meet the criteria for access to primary education in rural areas: that is, a primary school place within six miles of each home in

Shropshire.

Table: Filter 2

Norbury was added after the information check at Stage 2 of the procedure.
 

2.2 Continuity of Primary Education

The new policy is clear that there is a preference for all-through primary education except where the school resulting from amalgamation of an infant/junior pairing would either be

admitting over 2 forms of entry in the medium term, or on two sites.

The following infant and junior pairs have been filtered out of automatic consideration because they would currently not meet these requirements. However, this does not rule out a joint approach from the Governing Bodies of a pair to seek amalgamation or reorganisation outside of the current policy.

Table: Filter 3

2.3 Sustainable network of schools

The Policy considers schools with the prospect of a long term roll of 92 or above to be viable in terms of a sustainable network of rural schools. The following schools have been filtered out of further consideration because they have at least a reasonable prospect of maintaining a roll of 92 pupils in the medium to long term.

Table: Filter 4

*The projections for Alveley show less likelihood of reaching and maintaining 92 pupils than for other schools in the list. However, many pupils at Alveley would be unable to reach

Highley by vehicle within six miles, although those within the town and ambulant would be able to use the footbridge. The combination of these factors results in the school being

filtered out of further consideration.

2.4 Further Consideration

The remaining schools do not individually meet the initial policy filters. However, any changes to the network of schools affect the position of neighbouring schools. The remaining schools were therefore considered in relation to their local groupings. This deliberation involved consideration of the educational and social factors involved in potential changes to school organisation, the potential for relocation of pupils, the effect on the environment and the balance of school places in schools with a religious character. Certain aspects of the

deliberations are summarised in the table of proposals for consultations on school closures set out below. However, each school was given detailed individual consideration, more details of which are set out in Appendix A. In each case where closure is proposed, one or more alternative schools are identified as possible destinations for pupils. In a small number of destination schools, additional class bases would be required in the short term. However, these schools would also be considered for investment through the primary capital programme (see Financial Implications below). Pupil numbers in the table below are based on January 2008 returns from schools. However, other figures are based on September 2007 returns as the January 2008 figures (collected on 17 January) are still being processed.

Table: Planned list of proposed closures for further consultation

The schools listed above for consultation on proposals for closure currently house 7.4% of the primary school population in total (1496 pupils).

The table below lists the Infant/Junior pairs which are suggested for consultation on amalgamation. There are three ways this can be accomplished. The ways include closing the

Junior School and increasing the age range of the infant school, closing the infant school and increasing the age range of the Junior school or by closing both schools and opening a new school in the existing buildings. The Council’s Primary School Organisation Policy does not express a preference for any particular pathway, and it is proposed that this should be part of the consultation.

Table: Planned list of Proposed Infant/Junior Amalgamations for Consultation

The schools listed above for consultation on proposals for amalgamation currently house 9.0% of the primary school population in total (1807 pupils). These pupils would not change site under the proposals set out above.

In addition to the proposals set out above, there are two other planned school organisation proposals which would require consultation. These are set out in the table below.

Table: Planned list of Proposed Other Proposals for Consultation

3.1 Revenue Funding

Previous papers have set out the need for reductions in the sum allocated to schools as support for the current unsustainable network of schools. The projected shortfall between

government grant and allocations to schools in 2009/10 is £1,439,270 and in 2010/11 £1,864,028. If the proposals listed above for consultation are implemented in September

2009, 7/12ths of the full year savings would be achieved in 2009/10 and full year savings in 2010/11. The projected full year savings from the listed proposals would be £2,076,011, but there are also some expected costs to be offset. The following table sets out the reconciliation between the projected savings, additional costs and shortfall in grant income.

Note that the projected additional travel and one-off severance costs are projected figures based on experience of similar proposals in Shropshire and elsewhere.

From 2010/11, there is a good match between the projected savings and the projected shortfall in DSG. In 2009/10, the 7/12ths effect means that not all the savings required to

meet the shortfall can be made through school organisation proposals. However, it is expected that the required savings can be managed from one off savings items.

Details of the projected savings from each proposal are included at Appendix B.

3.2 Capital Expenditure

It is not possible to identify the exact pattern of capital expenditure which will be required, as it will depend to some extent on the preferences of parents seeking alternative schools for their children. However, the list above identifies approximately 8 additional class bases, at an estimated cost of £1.5m, and some additional refurbishment at an estimated cost of £0.5m (based on experience of similar schemes in recent years). However, Shropshire primary schools are on the verge of a major investment programme which, over a 14 year period could amount to as much as £129m. In the first three years, the proposed budget is approximately £16m, composed of £8.45m of government grant through the Primary Capital Programme, £3.19m from other government grants, £2.47m of devolved formula capital and £1.89m from the Local Controlled Voluntary Aided Programme of capital expenditure (LCVAP). In addition, in some, but not all, cases receipts might be raised by the sale of redundant land and/or buildings and reinvested in the schools estate. The availability of receipts from redundant facilities in all sectors will depend on a detailed examination of the ownership of each site.

The cost of the current proposals will also be offset by reductions in the cost of maintenance required at schools proposed for closure. In the community and voluntary controlled sectors, this is £1.41m. Voluntary Aided schools maintenance is not included in the Council’s Asset Management Plan, but will increase the savings. The proposed reduction in the extent of the school’s network will also reduce future calls on the investment budget as the Council refurbishes schools through the Primary Capital Programme.

Individual consultation processes will be set up for each proposal or set of linked proposals.

These will be conducted in line with the Council’s policy on consideration of school organisation proposals (Appendix C). Stages 1 to 3, which involve confidential consideration

by officers and the Lead Member and discussion with headteachers and governors have already been completed ahead of this report, which has been prepared in accordance with

Stage 4. The proposed timetable for further consultation is set out below

Primary School Organisation Report to Cabinet - 26 September 2007

Primary School Organisation Report to Cabinet - 28 November 2007

Primary School Organisation Report to Council – 14 December 2007

Children have a right to education. However, there is no right to a place within a specific maintained school. A proposed closure of a school does not, therefore, affect an individual

pupil or parent’s human rights.

A full environmental appraisal is a key component of any individual school organisation proposal. However, the broad environmental appraisal shows that the proposals will be

largely neutral and might well involve some environmental benefits. This is because the proposals would take out of use a number of energy inefficient school buildings with high

investment needs and in some cases replace them with new, energy efficient facilities. Although there would be some increase in transported pupils, there will be also be an

increase in pupils travelling by shared transport and decrease in the number of journeys undertaken in support functions to schools, so the increase in traffic will be limited and any

increase in carbon emissions will be broadly offset by the reduction in energy usage as a result of efficiency savings.

Pupil number changes are projected to drive a reduction in Dedicated Schools Grant from £139.2m to £132.5m (at today’s costs). This represents a significant risk in educational

resources and outcomes for all Shropshire schools unless action is taken.

The report proposed detailed consultation on the implementation of the Council’s policy on primary school organisation. A full community planning appraisal is a key component of any

school organisation proposal.

Cllr. Ann Hartley

All areas of the County.

A. Details of individual consideration and proposals for each school

B. Projected savings from each proposal

C. Procedure for the consideration of school organisation proposals

D. Draft consultation document