Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: : 2009/199

Contact: Roy Leach, Strategic Lead School Organisation & Planning (01865 816458)

Report by: Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA7)

The European School at Culham is currently funded through a grant from the European Union. This grant funding is being phased out and the Department for Children, Schools and Families has agreed with the school's trust that it can be brought into the English maintained sector through replacing it with an academy. The first formal stage of this process is the submission of an ‘Expression of Interest' to the Schools Minister for his approval. Although the replacement academy will not be maintained by the County Council, the Council's support for the creation of an academy is sought. If the academy goes ahead, the project management of the delivery of new buildings will be the responsibility of the County Council. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)               note the contents of the draft Expression of Interest;

(b)              support the submission of the Expression of Interest as the basis of a proposal to replace the European School, Culham with an academy subject to the financial guarantees detailed in paragraphs 16, 17 and 18; and

(c)               request officers to bring a further report on the outcomes of consultations undertaken as part of the ‘Feasibility Study’.

The Cabinet considered a report (CA7) seeking support for the replacement of The European School at Culham with an Academy and seeking approval for submission of an ‘Expression of Interest' to the Schools Minister for his approval of the replacement.

Councillor Patrick, speaking as Shadow Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement expressed concern at the impact of an Academy on surrounding schools and urged caution.

The Leader highlighted the good attributes of the school including its emphasis on languages its provision of a different type of qualification and the special feel of the school. The cabinet member for Schools Improvement added that the proposals fell directly in line with Government legislation aimed at bringing independent schools within the state sector. With regard to the catchment area of surrounding schools the current school already admitted a significant number of pupils from the wider area. Funding would not come from the County Council but from Government who had top sliced funding at a national level.

RESOLVED:             to

(a)               note the contents of the draft Expression of Interest;

(b)              support the submission of the Expression of Interest as the basis of a proposal to replace the European School, Culham with an academy subject to the financial guarantees detailed in paragraphs 16, 17 and 18 of the report submitted; and

(c)               request officers to bring a further report on the outcomes of consultations undertaken as part of the ‘Feasibility Study’.