Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2008/092

Contact: Janet Tomlinson, Director for Children, Young People &

Families (01865 815122)

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA10).

Oxford School is a 'National Challenge School' because its headline GCSE results fall below a nationally acceptable threshold of 30% or more students gaining 5 or more grades A*-C (including English and mathematics). Local Authorities are expected to consider radical proposals which will bring about significant and sustained improvements, including whether such schools should be replaced by academies. An 'Expression of Interest' in exploring the academy option has been submitted to the Department for Children, Schools & Families. If approved, it will result in the release of funding from the DCSF for the undertaking of a detailed feasibility study. This will consider the viability of creating an academy to replace Oxford School as well as ascertain the views of a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, students, staff, elected and community representatives.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)                          note the content of the Expression of Interest;

(b)                          agree to proceed with the ‘Feasibility Study; and

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

Councillor Altaf-Khan expressed concern that the Expression of Interest (EoI) had not been directly communicated to local Members and parents.  He was also concerned that another academy would leave no choice for parents; all options should be considered, and not just an academy.  He added that neither he nor his Group supported the creation of an academy, because it was pushing education into the private sector.

Ms. Thorne informed those present that she was the mother of two children at the school.  She stated that the figures were not accurate and it was not a failing school; in fact, it had better results than the Oxford Academy and North Oxfordshire Academy.  The report was only about one option, and there were other options: trust school or federated school.  She was not impressed with the record of the promoters of the academy.

Councillor Waine indicated that he had never made up his mind to include St. Christopher’s School in the EoI and so he had not changed his mind before submitting the EoI.  In relation to consultation, he confirmed that consultation was a statutory requirement of the feasibility study process.

The Cabinet considered a report (CA10) about the option of possibly replacing the school with an academy.

Oxford School is a 'National Challenge School' because its headline GCSE results fell below a nationally acceptable threshold of 30% or more students gaining 5 or more grades A*-C (including English and mathematics).

Local authorities are expected to consider radical proposals which will bring about significant and sustained improvements, including whether such schools should be replaced by academies. An 'Expression of Interest' in exploring the academy option has been submitted to the Department for Children, Schools & Families. If approved, it will result in the release of funding from the DCSF for the undertaking of a detailed feasibility study. This will consider the viability of creating an academy to replace Oxford School as well as ascertain the views of a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, students, staff, elected and community representatives.

RESOLVED:            to:

(a)               note the content of the Expression of Interest;

(b)               agree to proceed with the ‘Feasibility Study; and

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