Outcome of Further Consultation Relating to the Replacement of Myers Grove and Wisewood Secondary Schools

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE

MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL 6TH JUNE, 2007

At its meeting on 4th June, 2007, the Cabinet received a report of the Executive Director, Children and Young People on the outcome of further consultation on a proposal to replace Myers Grove and Wisewood Secondary Schools with a new school.

In accordance with the arrangements approved by the Council at its meeting on 5th April, 2000, the report, together with a recommendation of the Cabinet thereon, as set out below, is referred to the City Council for consideration:-

OUTCOME OF FURTHER CONSULTATION ON A PROPOSAL TO REPLACE MYERS GROVE AND WISEWOOD SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITH A NEW SCHOOL

With reference to a report considered by the Cabinet on 28th February, 2007 detailing the outcome of an extensive consultation on a proposal to replace Myers Grove and Wisewood Secondary Schools with a new school, the Executive Director, Children and Young People submitted a further report summarising the rationale for the proposed reorganisation, attaching, as Appendix B, a copy of the original report, and highlighting two key issues that were raised during the processes which had been followed up with further consultation on alternative solutions. He stated that the first issue was an alternative approach to the provision of 14-19 education put forward by the Governing Bodies of both Wisewood and Myers Grove schools. The second issue related to catchment areas, which many respondents in the consultation felt could be altered to provide a more appropriate pattern of admissions priorities.

In order to explore those issues further, the Executive Director had undertaken further consultation on the alternative option of creating an 11-19 school and on three options related to catchment areas. It was stressed that the further consultation would concentrate on the specific issues in question, rather than further consultation on the original reorganisation proposal. He commented on the outcome of the further consultation, as detailed in the report, and put forward recommendations. He also pointed out that the wording of paragraph 5.53 of the report should state “options 2 or 3” and not “options 1 or 2” and that this had been corrected in the report published on the Council’s website.

He emphasized that it was still his view that the most appropriate course of action would be to proceed with the publication of statutory notices and the proposals for closure and replacement of the two schools. However, it had been suggested that, in order to ensure that there was full confidence in the process that the Council had undertaken with respect to the proposal to replace Myers Grove and Wisewood Schools, an independent review of the process should be commissioned. The Chief Executive circulated a letter to the Leader of the Council summarising the context for such a review and containing proposals on the terms of reference for the review and membership of the Review Panel.

The Executive Director, Children and Young People, also reported on a development concerning the competition process since the report to Cabinet on 28th February, 2007 in that an opportunity had arisen to explore seeking an exemption to the competition process and the report explained the context for this and the change it would make to the process for deciding who would provide the new school. He stated that the Secretary of State could give consent for the Local Authority to publish proposals for a new Community School or for consent for governors or parents to publish proposals for a Foundation School instead of a competition process.

RESOLVED: That (a) the issues raised in the consultation and suggestions for the new school to cater for pupils between the ages of 11- 19 be noted and, accordingly, a change to the original specification for the new school be approved:

(b) the Executive Director’s recommendation, after taking account of the responses in the consultation process, to retain the status quo in relation to potential catchment changes by adopting Option 1 set out in the report now submitted to retain the current pattern of catchment boundaries be approved;

(c) authority be given for the Executive Director, Children and Young People, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance, to seek consent from the Secretary of State for permission to publish proposals for a new Community School, or, were that to be unacceptable to the Department for Education and Skills, for consent to be sought for a Foundation School preferably led by a group representative of the local community (e.g. governors/parents);

(d) it be noted that there has been consultation on proposals to replace the two community schools at Wisewood and Myers Grove, in accordance with statutory requirements and guidance, and that the proposals have resulted in a strong response, particularly in relation to the proposed closure of Wisewood School;

(e) to ensure that there is full confidence in the process the Council has undertaken, the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the establishment of an Independent Panel to review the following questions: -

1. What plan provides the best way forward for secondary education in the Myers Grove and Wisewood Communities?

2. What plan provides the best way forward for the City?

(f) the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to establish an Independent Review on the basis of the details now circulated, with a report back in September 2007.

(NOTE: 1. This item is referred for consideration by the City Council and cannot therefore be called-in for scrutiny; and

2. The report is circulated to all Council Members with the Council Summons.)

Liz Bashforth

Assistant Chief Executive,

Legal and Governance

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