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Agenda item

School Organisation Plan - Adamsdown & Splott

Appendices 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the report are exempt from publication as they contain exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item.

 

(To follow)

 

To enable Members to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the School Organisation Plan proposals for early years, primary and secondary provision to service Adamsdown and Splott.

Minutes:

Members were advised that Appendices 6, 7, 8 & 9 of the Cabinet Report contains exempt information of the description contained in Paragraphs 14 and 21 of Parts 4 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

The Chair welcomed Sarah Merry (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills); Melanie Godfrey (Director of Education and Lifelong Learning); Neil Hardee (Head of Services to Schools); Suzanne Scarlett (Operational Manager, Partnerships and Performance);  Richard Portas (Programme Director of SOP); and Michele Duddrige-Friedl (Operational Manager, Planning & Provision) to the meeting.

 

Councillor Merry was invited to make a statement during which she briefly referred to the history; the original plan was to rebuild Willows High School on the site at Tremorfa Park, St Albans RC Primary school was to be closed and Baden Powell Primary School and Tremorfa nursery was be expanded.  However, St Albans is no longer to be closed and further proposals had to be considered.  The proposal now is to relocate Willows High School on a site and Lewis Road.

 

The Programme Director provided Members with a brief outline:

 

·         The recommendation to Cabinet is to acquire land at Lewis Road;

·         To provide a report, in due course, providing responses following an engagement exercise rather than a consultation;

·         The new location is within a mile radius of the existing site;

·         The school will have six forms of entry (FE), there will not be a sixth form;.

·         In terms of education it is an opportunity for a new vision and there is an opportunity to rebrand.

 

Members were asked to comment or raise questions on the non-confidential information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows.

 

·          

Members referred to the previous closure of high schools due to falling numbers, the fact that those numbers rose again and there are currently difficulties with the number of schools places, the example being Eastern High School.  Members also referred to the reduced forms of entry (FE) number in the new proposals for Willows High School.  Members were advised that discussions are taking place regarding the importance of future proofing schools as they are rebuilt to accommodate growth; business cases have to be written and submitted to Welsh Government and critical forensic analysis of pupil numbers and projections must also take place.

 

There are faith schools and a Welsh Medium school in the area which were considered when assessing the 6 FE for Willows High School.  Members referred to the plans for capacity at Cathays High School and were advised that the position with Cathays and Willows High Schools are different and have a different context.  No school is the same; they need to respond to different aspirations. Officers advised that a 6 FE was appropriate in all the circumstances.

 

·          

Members asked about the longer term challenges in retaining local families and noted that in the original proposal significant emphasis was placed upon post 16 provision and what that provision might involve, there had also been strong support in the post 16 element in the consultation.  This proposal is less specific.  Members were advised that it is not felt that a 6 FE school would be able to support a post 16 that is large enough to be financially viable by itself.  It is important to ensure that any proposal moving forward is sustainable.  It is important to go through the education commissioning process to work out what is important for all involved.  The programme needs to be enhanced and robust.  It is important to go through the process locally to work out what the best solution may be.  There are lots of different opportunities the school is presented with.

 

·          

Members sought confirmation about ALN provision on the new site, it was noted that Willows High School does have a number of children who are educated other than at school (EOTAS).  Members were advised that there needs to consultation with SRB/ALN provision elements of the process which run parallel to the engagement process.  It will form part of the ALN strategy and will need to be considered by Cabinet in due course.  Members noted that it is important to ensure that there is the correct balance of SRB/ALN provision distributed across the city. 

 

 

Members asked for clarification about the number of children who attend faith schools in that area, which faith schools they attended and whether those faith schools can cope with those numbers.  Members were advised that St Iltyd’s continue to have spaces, they have increased their Pupil Admission Number (PAN) to 7 FE.  There is also St Teilos in that area and some do go across to Bishop of Llandaff, although very few.  A few also go to Corpus Christi depending on where they live and the primary school they attended previously. It is expected going forward that there will be a sufficiency of places, although preferences sometimes change if there is a new school.

 

·          

Members referred to the number of pupils who attend Marlborough and Howardian Primary Schools who are unable to access places at Cardiff High School and have to reluctantly attend Willows High School. How is the perception of a school to be changed if it is moved further away?  Members were advised that a strategy has to be devised which revolutionises the perception of the school within its local community.  Eastern High School is an example of schools that’s perception has changed massively within the community.  Fitzalan is in the same position, although a new school was not required in that instance.  They both have in catchment supply which exceeds demand. Every school needs to be trusted and in touch with its local community and responding to what its community requires. It’s important that parents have a good understanding of all the schools on offer not just those in their local areas.  Parents will look around, they want to consider what is important to them in their own personal circumstances. Catchment areas will also need to be considered bearing in mind the development, although it needs to be considered once the full picture is known.

 

·          

Members referred to the Cardiff West  and Fitzalan High Schools, in particular in relation to engagement and the sites.  Members were advised that lessons have been learned. The engagement exercise will be different as the formal consultation process does not have to be followed, it provides an opportunity to engage on the important issues for parents and the community. The method of engagement will also be different considering the current pandemic and the opportunities that has presented.

 

The committee moved into closed session to discuss the confidential appendices.

 

AGREED – that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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