Return to Items for DecisionDelegated
Decisions by Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement –
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Cabinet Member for Schools’ Improvement : Councillor Michael Waine |
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Officers: |
Kath Coldwell (Corporate Core) Roy Leach (Children, Young People & Families) |
Also in attendance:
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Public Address: |
Councillor Olive McIntosh Stedman (as a local member) |
Documentation considered:
Report |
Rose Hill Primary School Oxford – Outcome of Informal Consultation about a Possible ‘Fresh Start’ Bid
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A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.
Summary of representations in person
Councillor McIntosh Stedman stated that the Head Teacher of Rose Hill Primary School had asked her to express her support for the proposals, adding that a wide number of people were in support of the regeneration of the school, including
Oxford City Council’s Regeneration Officer, school staff and local residents.
Mr Roy Leach (Senior Adviser Educational Achievement & Service Monitoring) reported the outcome of the meeting on 2 November with the National Strategies Regional Director to discuss the Fresh Start bid. The Director had stated that he would be minded to support the bid subject to knowing the availability of school places in neighbouring schools. He had received confirmation that there were insufficient places in neighbouring schools for children from Rose Hill Primary School and that additional housing in Rose Hill would increase pressures on local schools. The Director was currently exploring with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) whether the Ministers would waive the need for the Fresh Start proposal to be subject to a ‘competition’. Officers were expecting an indication of this within the week.
Cabinet Member’s Comments
The OfSTED inspection in December 2005 resulted in the school being issued with a Notice to Improve and in January 2007 the school had been subject to Special Measures. Although clear improvements have been made since then, many of them as a result of the appointment of a new Head Teacher, further significant improvements need to take place and the buildings are not fit for purpose. Closing the school is not an option due to the growing population in Oxford City and the distance of travel for pupils to other schools.
Decision
Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before me, the representation made to me and the further considerations set out above, I confirm my decisions on this matter as follows:
(a.) to authorise officers to carry out a formal consultation with all stakeholders and to report the outcome of this to the Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement on 2 January 2008; and
(b.) to authorise officers to submit a formal bid to the Department for Children, Schools & Families for the Fresh Start Initiative funding, whilst noting that implementation would be subject to the outcome of the formal consultation.
Signed ......................................................................
Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement
Date ………………………2007