Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendation numbers 1 and 2 and 3 being replaced with:

That Cabinet proceed to a formal statutory consultation on the closure of Ysgol Maes Edwin, Flint Mountain.

And the addition of number 4 as:

If a detailed business case for a federation is received before the end of February 2016 Cabinet will consider it alongside the outcome of the statutory consultation process at its meeting on 19 April 2016.

Councillor Bithell provided details of the responses from the statutory consultation period for Ysgol Maes Edwin, Flint Mountain.  The proposal to enter into formal consultation on closure was approved in June 2015 on the basis of criteria laid down in the Council’s School Modernisation Strategy which were: Unfilled places across the primary school portfolio; diminishing resource criteria; small school criteria and being currently in Welsh Government (WG) categorisation 4, on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being the lowest, for educational standards.

            He reiterated his earlier comments of any review being sensitive and emotive however the Council was challenged with balancing community feeling with providing a high quality education offer which could be sustained and afforded.

            The concerns raised by pupils, community, staff, parents and carers were outlined in the report. 

The Council would take all practicable steps to ease the transition for all pupils, most especially for vulnerable learners such as those with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and would work alongside pupils, their parents and the relevant schools to make appropriate transition arrangements for pupils to familiarise themselves with their new environments.

            It was the Council’s view that there was sufficient capacity within the local school network to accommodate pupils from Ysgol Maes Edwin should it close, with Estyn commenting “The local authority has given a clear rationale for the proposed expected benefits when compared with the status quo in relation to finance, surplus places and the continuity and progression in pupils’ learning”.

            Under the current transport policy fewer than 10 pupils would be entitled to free home to school transport based on the assumption that they would transfer to their nearest school, Ysgol Owen Jones in Northop, on the basis of the route being a hazardous one.

On 6 January 2016 Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to consider the outcomes from the consultation.  The resolutions from that meeting were (1) That the process be suspended for two months to allow the opportunity for federation to be reviewed and (2) that comments be collated and presented to Cabinet.  Those comments were appended to the report. 

Councillor Bithell explained that at the time of writing the report the governing body had not been able to identify a wiling partnering school or schools in which to pursue a federation with neighbouring schools confirming that they had not and would not bring forward a federation proposal with Ysgol Maes Edwin.  However, the previous evening an email that had been sent to Cabinet Members from the acting Chair of Governors who indicated that there was the possibility of a federation of more than two schools that could be proposed.  On that basis he moved an amendment to recommendation 3 in the report to be “That the process be suspended for three weeks to allow the opportunity for a federation to be reviewed and submission of a firm and viable proposition”, which was seconded by Councillor Attridge. He felt that this would provide sufficient time to allow any information to be gathered and submitted.

Relating the discussion back to the previous item, Members felt there needed to be consistency with how both reports were dealt with and based on that, Councillor Bithell withdrew his amendment with Councillor Attridge withdrawing his support as seconder. 

As with the previous item, the Chief Officer (Education and Youth) explained that following the meeting today, a statutory notice would be issued for a 28 day period for submission of any objections.  The deadline for objections would be 26 February 2016.  The objection report would then be published within 28 days and to Cabinet within 35 days with the next available meeting being on 19 April 2016 when the report would recommend either implementation of the school closure statutory notice or to withdraw the statutory proposals and support a federation proposal should a viable proposal be put forward.  The current status quo was not a sustainable option and a feasible alternative would need to be submitted with formal proposal from two or more schools to form a federation, which would need to be in the best interest of the schools and pupils.  The Chief Executive added that any proposals for a federation would be expected to be received in the coming days to enable early engagement.

Following the discussion an additional recommendation was suggested as “That if a detailed business case is received before the end of February 2016 Cabinet will consider it alongside the outcome of the statutory consultation process at its meeting on 19 April 2016” which was agreed.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the responses from the statutory consultation period for Ysgol Maes Edwin, Flint Mountain, be considered;

(b)       That the comments from the Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the evidence and analysis provided by officers within the report be considered;

(c)        That Cabinet proceed to a formal statutory consultation on the closure of Ysgol Maes Edwin, Flint Mountain; and

(d)       That if a detailed business case for a federation is received before the end of February 2016 Cabinet will consider it alongside the outcome of the statutory consultation process at its meeting on 19 April 2016.