Issue - meetings
Stage Two Statutory Notice Proposal to Alter the Lower Age Range at St Gregory the Great Catholic School, Oxford
Meeting: 19/03/2013 - Cabinet (Item 32)
Cabinet Member: Education
Forward Plan Ref: 2012/183
Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: (01865) 816445
Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA7).
The proposal is linked to a plan,
supported by the county council and the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, for
St Gregory’s to expand into the currently vacant building on Cricket Road,
adjacent to their current site. This building was a school, then used as
offices by Oxfordshire County Council, but has been vacant for over two years.
The proposal is for St Gregory’s to establish their primary phase of education
in this vacant building.
The proposal is also linked to
the school converting to an academy and forming part of a Multi Academy
Company, with six Catholic primary schools around the county. This process is
running concurrently with the alteration of the age range proposal, and will be
decided upon in due course through the Department for Education. Although the
two proposals are linked in that they are concurrent, the outcome of one does
not necessarily impact on the outcome of the other.
The
Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the alteration of
the lower age range of St Gregory the Great Catholic School with effect from 1
September 2013.
Additional documents:
- CA_MAR1913R04 Annex 1, item 32
PDF 172 KB
- CA_MAR1913R05 Annex 2, item 32
PDF 155 KB
- CA_MAR1913R22 Appendix to Annex 2 St Gregory's, item 32
PDF 77 KB
- CA_MAR1913R06 Annex 3, item 32
PDF 139 KB
- CA_MAR1913R07 Annex 4, item 32
PDF 187 KB
Minutes:
Note: As set out under Rule 18(a) of the
Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision is exempt from Call-In as it is deemed
urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, in that
that St Gregory the Great Catholic School is due
to become an Academy on 1 April 2013 and the process to change the age range
needs to be completed by that date.
Cabinet
considered a report on the proposal to alter the lower age range of St Gregory the
Great Catholic School. Cabinet noted that the proposal was linked to a plan,
supported by the county council and the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, for
St Gregory’s to expand into the currently vacant building on Cricket Road,
adjacent to their current site. The proposal is also linked to the school
converting to an academy and forming part of a Multi Academy Company, with six
Catholic primary schools around the county.
Mr Hussey,
Headteacher, St Gregory the Great Catholic School, spoke in support of the
proposals which in a unique collaboration would make best use of a building
that had lain empty for two years. Following concerns over the consultation
this had been undertaken again to ensure it was open and transparent. A
transport plan had been commissioned and received. Mr Hussey noted that
existing success working with John Fisher School meant there was access to a
strong curriculum and he outlined some of the benefits.
Councillor
Tilley, Cabinet Member for Education in introducing the report stated that she
was fully supportive of the proposals. Allyson Milward referred to the need for
places in Oxford and commented that those least likely to get places were those
parents seeking catholic places.
Cabinet welcomed
the plans and particularly the involvement of all age ranges in the life of the
school from 4 year olds to Age Concern. They congratulated all those who had
worked hard to bring the proposals forward, which was an excellent example of
partnership working.
RESOLVED: to approve the alteration of the lower age range of St Gregory the Great Catholic School with effect from 1 September 2013.