ITEM CMDSDI2 CABINET MEMBER FOR SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT – 4 JUNE 2007 CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF PEERS SCHOOL TO BE REPLACED BY AN ACADEMY Report by Assistant Head of Educational Effectiveness Service Introduction 1.
Peers School is an improving
school which has recently moved out of Special Measures but still has
an improvement notice. The Governors, the Oxford Diocesan Board and Oxfordshire
County Council have been working together to consider the possibility
of closure of Peers School and the opening of an Academy on the site.
An ‘Expression of Interest’ has been submitted to the Department for Education
& Skills (DfES) and has been approved. The project has moved into
the Feasibility Stage. There is a requirement to have non statutory and
statutory consultation on the proposed closure of Peers School and the
opening of an Academy. 2. The Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement’s permission is sought to consult on the closure of Peers School and the opening of an Academy. It is proposed that a brochure be printed and a number of informal consultation events be held for parents, staff and members of the community during June. The planned programme is detailed below:
3. Feedback from these will inform the development of a formal consultation document to be used in September if the Cabinet decides to issue a School Closure Notice. 4. This proposal to develop an Academy aligns with Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC) commitment to promote ‘real choice’, as the proposed Academy will add to the diversity of schools. It agrees with the strategic priorities: to give all of us – throughout our lives- the opportunity to enjoy effective teaching and learning; to help our disadvantaged residents to live fulfilling and independent lives; and to keep improving our services by listening to users’ views. 5. The proposed building enhancement will meet more exacting environmental standards. 6. The reason for consideration of this proposal is to equalise opportunity for the communities around Peers School by providing young people and the community with enhanced educational and recreational facilities. Financial and Staff Implications 7. Funding has been released by the DfES for OCC officers to develop plans for the construction of an academy. The DfES will approve expenditure against these funds. The plans for closure and the opening of an academy, including site, financial, HR, equality, sustainability and legal considerations will come to Cabinet for approval in September. There have already been discussions with staff of the Peers School about TUPE arrangements should the proposal go ahead. RECOMMENDATION 8. The Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement is RECOMMENDED to authorise officers to consult informally in June and July on the proposal to close Peers School and open an Academy on the Peers School site and report the outcome to full Cabinet in September along with a full appraisal of the project and its risks. SHANNON MOORE Background papers: Provisional Timeline; The Expression of Interest; The Draft Brochure Contact Officer: Shannon Moore, Assistant Head of Service: Learning & Achievement Tel: (01865) 428084 May 2007
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