Issue - meetings

In March 2008 Council approved a strategy for the future of secondary schools in Bath & North East Somerset.  In May 2008 Cabinet agreed to consult on proposed changes to some Bath schools specifically the closure of Culverhay (boys), Oldfield (girls) and St Mark’s C.E. schools and a linked proposal to open one new co educational school in the north of the city and one new co-educational school in the south of the city.

A public consultation exercise on this proposal was undertaken between March and May 2010 and this report sets out the results of the consultation.

Ishbel Tovey made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 5] in which she appealed to the Cabinet to support a coeducational Oldfield School.

Sarah Moore (Culverhay Parent Action Group) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 6] in which she emphasised the Community School status of Culverhay School.  She reminded Cabinet members that the original proposals had been for a coeducational school on the Culverhay site and pointed out that the parent supporters' facebook page had 1224 signatures.  She presented a petition of 1900 signatures to Cabinet calling for the retention of Culverhay as a coeducational school.

The Chair referred the petition to Councillor Chris Watt for his consideration and response in due course.

Annette Scoging made a statement in which she drew attention to the option in the report which referred to a possible coeducational school on the Culverhay site.  This was the option which parents had been consulted about and at no time was the closure of Culverhay part of the consultation.  She appealed to the Cabinet not to close Culverhay School.

James Eynon (Head Boy, Culverhay School) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 7] in which he explained the benefits he had gained while at the school and appealing to the Cabinet to follow the original plans of one coeducational school in the north of the city and one in the south.

Bradley Weeks (Year 9 student, Culverhay School) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 8] in which he explained how he had grown in his abilities and confidence through the help given to him at his local school, Culverhay.  He listed the activities provided by Culverhay School which he had found so valuable and he appealed to the Cabinet not to make students travel 3 times as far to get to school.  . 

Cheryl Pope (Head of St Mark's School) made a statement in which she expressed her delight that the Council would be supporting the imaginative solution created by St Mark's and St Gregory's by their federation.  She anticipated the two schools benefiting greatly by the provision of new joint 6^th Form facilities.

Councillor Paul Crossley made a statement reminding the Cabinet that the local community had always asked for a coeducational school on the site of Culverhay; that the Council had for 15 years led the community to believe that it would provide such a school; and that it was not equitable to oblige families with some of the lowest incomes in the area to pay the increased travel costs which would follow from the closure of Culverhay.

Councillor John Bull made a statement in which he appealed to the Cabinet to allow Full Council to debate the issue.  He reminded the Cabinet that the consultation had been overwhelmingly in favour of local, coeducational provision across Bath and pointed out that children from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98