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ITEM EX13

EXECUTIVE – 7 SEPTEMBER 2004

USE OF SCHOOL PREMISES FOR COMMUNITY PURPOSES - SCRUTINY REVIEW

Report by Director for Learning & Culture

1. On 1 June the Executive received the recommendations of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee and gave them initial consideration. It asked the Director for Learning & Culture (DLC) to arrange for the recommendations to be considered in more detail by the Extended Schools Strategy Group and for the DLC to report back at the earliest opportunity with a prioritised action plan.
2. The Extended Schools Strategy Group considered the Scrutiny Review report at its meetings on 8 and 14 June and again on 14 July. The Group’s detailed comments on each of the 18 recommendations from the Review and a proposed action in response to each one are set out in detail at Annex 1 (download as .doc file).

   Annex 2 - "Room at School" Scrutiny Review Recommendations (download as .doc file)
   
   Annex 3 (download as .doc file)

Overall comments on the Review

3. The Strategy Group notes that the Review has been broadly welcomed by headteachers, staff and governors in schools across Oxfordshire. The Review is also timely given the Government’s drive to develop extended schools and to allocate significant additional funds nationally in order to support this policy priority.
4. The Strategy Group acknowledges the wide-ranging scope of the Review. It raises issues not only for schools and for Learning & Culture but also for the County Council as a whole and for many partner agencies. The Review is forceful and challenging, and it demands a coherent response.
5. The Group notes that the Review concentrates on the most efficient and effective use of premises and on maximising facilities for the community. While these objectives are important, the Group also believes that the ultimate purpose of the extended use of schools is to raise the achievement of pupils and students and to promote social inclusion by supporting parents and families.

The Review Recommendations

6. The 18 recommendations of the Review can be categorised into three broad headings:
   
   

1. Recommendations which focus on the development of extended schools
   2. Dissemination events
   3. Governing body plans for maximising the use of their premises
   4. Raising awareness about the extended use of schools
   5. Responsible officer for extended use of schools
   6. Guidance pack for schools
   7. Advertising/marketing strategy for school partnerships
   10. Subsidy policy to support extended use of schools
   11. (part). work with Social & Health Care
   17. Pooled caretaking and management of lettings
   18. Improved insurance package
   

b. Recommendations which focus on the design and funding of schools

14. Establishing a capital development budget
15. Supporting Invest-to-save schemes
16. School design for community use.

c. Recommendations which focus on the broader use of schools as County Council premises

2. Holding County Council meetings and conferences in schools
8. Link with Review of property assets
11. (part). joint work with Social & Health Care
12. Use of schools by the Ambulance Trust
13. Use of school sites by other public agencies.

7. These recommendations, particularly those in the first and second groups above, will be taken forward as part of the Directorate’s work to implement the Education Development Plan (EDP) in 2004/05. This commitment has been specifically included under priority 8 of the EDP – Building Learning Communities.
8. The County Council is expecting to receive specific grant funding from Government in 2005/06 and beyond in order to:

- support the development of extended schools; and

- establish at least one full service extended school (see Annex 3) in each local authority area.

This funding will help the County Council to implement some of the key recommendations of the Review.

Overall Action Plan

9. Drawing from the commentary and recommendations set out in Annex 1 (download as .doc file), the following overall plan is recommended:

Aspect 1: Develop extended schools (responsible officer: Shannon Moore, Senior Advisor) arrange dissemination events (Autumn 2004) spread awareness through the establishment of an extended schools web page and links to other key websites (Autumn 2004 onwards) publish guidance pack for schools including insurance/use of premises issues (Spring 2005) confirm Council policies for adult learning use of school premises and that of other key services (by Spring 2005) appoint an extended schools co-ordinator (by April 2005)* working with other agencies to establish a full service extended schools in areas of high social need (starting in April 2005)* establish extended schools partnerships (by September 2005)* develop partnership/school action plans for extended use of their premises (by end of 2005) develop subsidy policy and guidance (by end of 2005) develop pooled caretaking arrangements (by end of 2005) * subject to DfES grant funding being available in 2005/06 Aspect 2: Maximise the use of school property for community purposes (responsible officer: Michael Mill, Senior Education Officer) Refer the following matters to the Capital Programme and Asset Management Plan Steering Group for further consideration: development capital funding streams and policies to support community use schemes (for 2005/06) establishment of community use as an integral part of school design (during 2005/06) development of wider and more efficient use of school premises (from September 2005)

10. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. welcome the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Report "Room at School" and thank the members of the Review Group and the officers supporting them for the work they have done on the Review;
2. endorse the action plan in response to the Review set out in the report and Annex 1.

KEITH BARTLEY
Director for Learning & Culture

Background papers: Nil

Contact officer: Rick Harmes, Head of Community Learning - tel 01865-810626.

August 2004

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