Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Public Health & Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/113

Contact: Roy Leach, Strategic Lead for Education Sufficiency Tel: (01865) 816458

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA9).

Chiltern Edge School has been placed in Special Measures following an Ofsted rating of ‘Inadequate’. On 18 July 2017 Cabinet considered a report on a consultation into the future of Chiltern Edge School, and resolved to commission an external review of the progress made by October 2017 towards addressing the weaknesses identified by Ofsted and the construction of an in-year balanced budget and consider a further report on the progress identified by the external review at its November meeting.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)      note the content of the external review of progress made by the school towards addressing the weaknesses identified by Ofsted;

(b)      note the progress made by the school in creating an in year balanced budget; 

(c)      note progress made in identifying an appropriate academy sponsor for the school;

(d)      resolve not to publish a statutory notice proposing closure of Chiltern Edge School.

Recommendations agreed together with the following additional recommendation:

(v) Cabinet recognises and supports the leadership of the new headteacher and the wonderful job that parents have done for the children at the school.

Chiltern Edge School has been placed in Special Measures following an Ofsted rating of ‘Inadequate’. On 18 July 2017 Cabinet considered a report on a consultation into the future of Chiltern Edge School, and resolved to commission an external review of the progress made by October 2017 towards addressing the weaknesses identified by Ofsted and the construction of an in-year balanced budget. Cabinet considered a further report on the progress identified by the external review.

Dave Robinson, Save Our Edge campaign spoke as a parent and former teacher in support of keeping the School open. He outlined the actions that had been taken by the campaign including taking over the running of the Parent Teacher Group. He stressed that since the earlier report the school was improving and the potential was clear. He commended the strong leadership provided by the headteacher.

Moira Green, Headteacher of Chiltern Edge School highlighted the effect on the children at the School of living with uncertainty over its future. The children were fiercely loyal to the School and she asked that this uncertainty be removed. Ms Green outlined the actions taken by the School and the progress made in all areas. Councillor David Bartholomew referred to the level of concern raised with him as a local councillor at the beginning of May and his admiration for everything that had been achieved in such a short space of time.

Councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Education in moving the recommendations emphasised that the School had made progress in all the areas outlined in the earlier report. The Inspectors agreed that there were green shoots of recovery. She referred to the fantastic job by Ms Green and that she wanted to see the School move forward strongly. Councillor Stratford proposed an additional recommendation recognising the work of the headteacher and parents.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)       note the content of the external review of progress made by the school towards addressing the weaknesses identified by Ofsted;

(b)       note the progress made by the school in creating an in year balanced budget; 

(c)       note progress made in identifying an appropriate academy sponsor for the school;

(d)       resolve not to publish a statutory notice proposing closure of Chiltern Edge School; and

(e)       Cabinet recognises and supports the leadership of the new headteacher and the wonderful job that parents have done for the children at the school.