Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/102

Contact: Barbara Chillman, Principal Officer – School Organisation and Planning Tel: (01865) 816459

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA 10).

This report considers a proposal to merge Botley Primary School with Elms Road Nursery School & Children’s Centre into a single school and children’s centre under one headteacher and a single governing body, and with a new name.

The legal mechanism to achieve this is to formally close Elms Road Nursery School, and extend the age range of Botley Primary School to include 3 year olds. The name of the merged school would then be chosen by a unanimous vote of the full governing body.

Informal consultation was conducted in May-July 2010. A decision is now sought as to whether to proceed to issuing statutory notices to extend the age range at Botley Primary School and close Elms Road Nursery School, in accordance with The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools)(England) Regulations 2007 (as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendments)(England) Regulations 2007 which came into force on 21 January 2008). 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to either:

(a)            approve the publication of linked statutory notices for closure of Elms Road Nursery School and for the extension of age range at Botley Primary School to 3-11; and

(b)           reject the publication of linked statutory notices for closure of Elms Road Nursery School and for the extension of age range at Botley Primary School to 3-11.

Cabinet considered a report on a proposal to merge Botley Primary School with Elms Road Nursery School & Children’s Centre into a single school and children’s centre under one headteacher and a single governing body, and with a new name.

Councillor Janet Godden, speaking as a local member, expressed her gratitude that local members had been involved. She did believe that the proposal was right and that the proposed merger would be enriching for both schools. She commented that both were strong schools that were esteemed locally.

Mrs Ahern, Chair of Governors of Botley Primary School spoke in support of the proposals referring to the OFSTED inspection and outlining the benefits she saw in merger including the resolution of the issues around Foundation 1, greater flexibility of resources and an improved quality of education for Botley children.

Mrs Winter, Chair of Governors of Elms Road Nursery School spoke in favour of keeping the Nursery School open. It was an outstanding school and her view was that legally it should only close if there were compelling reasons. She believed that the case for closure was not strong and that in terms of quality of education there would be a loss of specialism. In terms of funding the only saving was on the cost of the head teacher.

Councillor Waine in introducing the report acknowledged that it was a difficult decision but that the key issue was to address in a positive way the OFSTED inspection judgement. He moved option (a) set out in the report.

Responding to queries, Councillor Waine confirmed that duer to changes in the funding formula the nursery school would be faced with a funding gap; there were sufficient management skills to deal with an extended age range.

RESOLVED:             To approve the publication of linked statutory notices for closure of Elms Road Nursery School and for the extension of age range at Botley Primary School to 3-11.