Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/134

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation & Planning Tel: (01865) 816445

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA6).

As set out under Rule 18(a) of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, The Chairman of the Council has agreed that this decision is exempt from Call-In as it is deemed urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, in that the Cabinet’s role would be negated by referral to the Schools’ Adjudicator if the decision was not taken within two months of the end of the Statutory Notice, in this case being 3 December 2012.?

The proposal is to permanently increase the school admission number at St Ebbe's CE (VA) Primary School from 45 to 60. This means that each year group would consist of up to 60 places, taught in two classes, making a maximum total of 420 pupils.

The school has admitted up to 60 children by local arrangement with Oxfordshire County Council for September 2012, however this arrangement is not permanent. This proposal is to formally change the admission number to 60 on a permanent basis from September 2014.

The current capacity of the school is 315 and the proposed capacity will be 420. The current admission number for the school is 45 and the proposed admission number will be 60. ?????

The decision is referred to the Cabinet at the meeting on 27th November 2012.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the permanent expansion of St Ebbe’s CE (A) Primary School with effect from 1 September 2014.

Cabinet considered a report detailing a proposal to permanently increase the school admission number at St Ebbe's Church of England (Aided) Primary School from 45 to 60.

Deborah Glass-Woodin, local resident, spoke against the proposed expansion querying in whose interest it was to have a bigger school as in her view bigger did not mean better educationally or otherwise. Important community aspects of the school would be lost. She queried who was in favour of the expansion referring to the significant opposition to the proposal. Governors had only voted for it as a means of addressing the anomaly of mixed year teaching  brought about by 1.5 forms of entry.

In response to a question from Councillor Tilley about the evidence that larger schools were worde educationally Mrs Glass-Woodin referred to anecdotal evidence and her own experience of Oxfordshire Schools. She believed that the evidence was available if sought out.

Ms Susie Bagnall, Head Teacher St Ebbe’s CE(A) Primary School spoke in support of the expansion as it would meet local demand, the room was available to build and the parents forum were in favour as it would remove mixed age teaching. She highlighted that it would not result in larger class sizes nor in a higher pupil/adult ratio. In her view as Head Teacher it would not be educationally disadvantageous.

In response to a question from Councillor Tilley, Ms Bagnall confirmed that the School had taken 15 additional pupils this year under a temporary agreement and if the expansion was agreed it would take place over a phased period.

RESOLVED:                        to approve the permanent expansion of St Ebbe’s CE (A) Primary School with effect from 1 September 2014.

N.B. As set out under Rule 18(a) of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, The Chairman of the Council has agreed that this decision is exempt from Call-In as it is deemed urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, in that the Cabinet’s role would be negated by referral to the Schools’ Adjudicator if the decision was not taken within two months of the end of the Statutory Notice, in this case being 3 December 2012.?