Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee requests that Flintshire County Council's Planning department negotiates with developers of the Northern Gateway site, the inclusion of a new high school as part of the infrastructure and provision needed for the allocation of houses if a trigger point is reached, perhaps linking with the new Technology facility; and

(b)       That the issues which had been raised during the meeting on pupil transfer and transition, transport, redeployment of teaching staff and teaching and support expertise, and support for new uniform provision, be fed back to Cabinet as part of their consideration of the report on 6 August 2015

The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) introduced a report to inform the Committee of the responses from the statutory consultation period on the sustainability of John Summers High School, and options for future education provision.  He advised that comments from the Committee were invited in advance of the Cabinet being requested to conclude on a formal proposal.

The Chief Officer provided background information and referred to the key considerations as detailed in the report concerning the sustainability of John Summers High School, and transitional issues.  He explained that whilst the concerns and anxieties of the local community were recognised, the Authority had a duty to provide high quality secondary education which was sustainable and affordable for pupils in the future.  He advised that due to the low annual intake of pupils in year seven and financial pressures,  John Summers High School was not sustainable and would not be able to meet the breadth of curriculum required by the Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure going forward. 

The Chief Officer commented on historical pupil data and the long term trend of low numbers at post 16 at John Summers which had led to the work around transformation. He explained that there was a downward trend of pupils in neighbouring primary schools transferring into the School and that the average transfer rate over the past two years was only 60% from the closest schools.  He reported on the projections for housing yield for the Northern Gateway project which was to be developed between 2017-2028 and advised that the total ‘yield’ of secondary school age child numbers eligible for admission to John Summers was 199.  If the full cohort of children were assumed to be admitted the number of pupils on roll at John Summers would be in the region of 504 when all projections were combined, which was below the four form entry of 600 places required at 11-16 age range.    The housing yield figures did not take into account parental choice or pupil movement.   The Chief Officer also commented on the prediction for future admission numbers based on birth rates in Flintshire and the Shotton/Queensferry areas in particular.

The Chief Officer went on to report on the implications around funding, sustainability, and staffing.  He referred to a reduction in funding for schools of around 2% due to nationally agreed pay awards and employers pension contribution increases.  He advised that in 2016/17, these costs/pressures wold increase again with the national implementation of the Single Tier Pension being a major factor.  To provide John Summers with a budget which enabled the school to meet its curriculum requirements, a considerable subsidy would be required and he cited an example which demonstrated the differential per pupil funding between John Summers and another high school in the County.  The Chief Officer stated that the Council would not be able to continue to subsidise John Summers High School without adversely impacting on other schools which were comparatively low funded.  The School would also need to address further challenges due to falling pupil numbers and changes in specific grant funding.  Based on pupil number projections and the assessed impact of real term inflationary pressures the Chief Officer advised that the School could face a 16% reduction in funding over the next four years which would result in a loss of teaching posts.  

The Chief Officer referred to the concerns raised by the local community following consultation on John Summers and said the importance of all the issues raised were fully recognised and were being addressed as part of the transitional plans.  Full consultation and cooperation was taking place with all Headteachers in the area to secure the best outcomes for pupils and students.  He explained that there were currently sufficient places in other schools for pupils who would be transferred if a decision was taken to close John Summers.   The options for transport being  provided, and subsidised where needed, were being worked through.  Students in all year groups would be supported and guided through their future education options and choices and the current GCSE study groups would be given support to complete their current examination choices.  

In summarising his comments the Chief Officer reiterated his advice that current and future pupil numbers for John Summers High School were insufficient to be sustained.  He referred to the ongoing reduction of funding in public finance and said the only way to safeguard quality of education for young people in the area was to make a change in the existing provision.   

The Chairman thanked the Chief Officer for his presentation.  He invited Councillor David Wisinger, the local Member for the Ward, to speak.

Councillor Wisinger thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak at the meeting and said he wished the Committee to consider the following suggestion for recommendation to the meeting of Cabinet on 6 August 2015.  “That Flintshire County Council Planning Officers work closely with the two developers of the Northern Gateway site, to come to an arrangement where a sum of money can be agreed and ring fenced to build a new secondary school.  This can either be built on the Airfields site or on the current John Summers School site in Queensferry.  If a new technology centre is to be built, as proposed, on the Northern Gateway, then perhaps the school could be linked to this. This new school would serve all the surrounding communities and also stop the migration of children over the English border”.

Councillor Wisinger read out statements which detailed the comments and concerns to the proposal which he had received from local residents  around transport, transitional arrangements, and pupil numbers.

At this point Councillor Wisinger withdrew from participation in the meeting. 

Councillor David Healey raised concerns around the transitional arrangements and asked if there was sufficient partnership to ensure the smooth transition of Year 9, 10 and 11 pupils.  He also expressed concerns around the concept of curriculum alignment and said he was sceptical about the level to which this could be achieved and asked if any funds had been set aside to address this matter.  In his response the Chief Officer advised that local headteachers were at the very centre of transitional planning and worked in close partnership and in the best interest of all pupils, to plan for any change that might arise as a result of the proposals.      The Chief Officer invited the Secondary Phase Officer to report in further detail on the longstanding collaborative working arrangements between secondary  schools in the County   The Secondary School Phase Officer advised that collaborative working between schools had provided opportunities for learning which would otherwise not have been viable.  He also commented on  the subject of school transport and travel arrangements and the use of grant funding which was and would continue to be a pressure going forward.       

The Chief Officer also addressed the concerns which had been raised by Councillor Wisinger regarding a financial contribution from developers of the Northern Gateway.  He referred to the legal framework concerning developer contributions and explained that developers did not make contributions where there was sufficient school places for children in the area and advised that there was an excess of school places in the area going forward.   The Chief Officer also responded to the additional concerns which had been raised by Councillor Wisinger on behalf of residents around the financial cost of providing new school uniforms and advised that pupils may be entitled to a grant towards the cost of their school uniform and that parents/carers could claim a school uniform grant if their child was eligible for free school meals and lived in Flintshire.

The Chief Executive referred to the  historical pupil data which was contained in the report which provided evidence of the steady decline in pupil numbers since 2006.

On the subject of transport the Chief Officer suggested that  the Committee may wish Cabinet to further consider a request from young people around the provision of transport arrangements  on a discretionary basis for pupils in order to ease the transfer process from one school to another.   

Councillor Nancy Matthews said she had concerns as to why, despite historical data detailing low numbers at John Summers High School, the Authority had considered building a new school for the 3-16 age range a relatively short time ago and had subsequently withdrawn from that.  She emphasised the need for care regarding the impact of the transition process on young people.  She expressed further concerns that the talent of young people  nurtured in the Additonal Learning Needs department may be lost, and on the redeployment of teaching staff, particularly Post 16 teachers.

Councillor Aaron Shotton, Leader of the Council, acknowledged the comments made by Councillor Matthews and said that the decision to be made by Cabinet regarding the future of John Summers High School was one of the most difficult to be considered.   Concerning the proposal for a new build he said that an opportunity had been provided to submit a capital business case to the Welsh Government (WG) for funding through the 21st Century Schools programme.  The vision was to give hope and confidence to the local community for the future of John Summers High School through the prospect of a 3-16 educational model and new campus.  The business case had to meet a number of tests to proceed.  Since then the development opportunities at the Northern Gateway project had not progressed as anticipated and the Authority had been faced with unprecedented levels of financial austerity.   

Councillor Chris Bithell reiterated the comments expressed by Councillor Shotton and said that the intention had been to give the School and the community the best chance, however, the anticipated uptake in pupil numbers had not materialised and the latest projections fell far short of the number required for a viable sustainable school.    

The Chief Executive commented that there had been a genuine commitment and belief that a new build option and a 3-16 educational model was viable, however, in preparation of the case to the WG for funding for capital investment there proved to be not a sufficient credible business case to put forward.  

Councillor Carolyn Thomas proposedthat the  Committee should request that Flintshire County Council's Planning department negotiates with developers of the Northern Gateway site, the inclusion of a new high school as part of the infrastructure and provision needed for the allocation of houses if a trigger point is reached, perhaps linking with the new Technology facility.   Councillor Dennis Hutchinson seconded the proposal and when put to the vote this was agreed by the Committee.    

The Chairman referred to the comments made by the Committee on the issues which had been raised during the public consultation which were: pupil transfer and transition, transport, redeployment of teaching staff and teaching and support expertise, and support for new uniform provision, and said that these would be fed back to Cabinet for consideration at the meeting to be held on 6 August 2015.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee requests that Flintshire County Council's Planning department negotiates with developers of the Northern Gateway site, the inclusion of a new high school as part of the infrastructure and provision needed for the allocation of houses if a trigger point is reached, perhaps linking with the new Technology facility; and

(b)       That the issues which had been raised during the meeting on pupil transfer and transition, transport, redeployment of teaching staff and teaching and support expertise, and support for new uniform provision, be fed back to Cabinet as part of their consideration of the report on 6 August 2015