Issue - meetings

The Council has published a legal notice proposing to be relieved of its duty to implement the proposal to close Culverhay School and a decision is required to determine the proposal

Councillor Gerry Curran (Chair of Governors, Culverhay School) made a statement saying that he was pleased that Cabinet would consider revoking the notice of closure.  Now that the consultation period for revocation had ended he asked the Cabinet to confirm the revocation so that the school could continue its plans to work towards sponsored academy status and, in due course, towards coeducational education so that it could effectively serve the local community.

Councillor Dine Romero made an ad hoc statement urging the Cabinet to confirm the revocation.  She felt that the recent school open evening had demonstrated how many parents were interested in sending their children to the school if it were to become a coeducational academy.  She said that this showed that the uncertainty about the school’s future had persuaded many parents from sending their children there in 2011, but that in 2012 this would be more than reversed.  This would require the school to move rapidly to accept girls.

Sarah Moore made an ad hoc statement in which she said that the community would be very pleased if Cabinet were to revoke the notice of closure.  It was what parents had been waiting to hear.

Councillor Tony Clarke made an ad hoc statement, saying that the Conservative Group position was that once closure had been revoked, the Group would be supportive of the school’s application for academy status.  He asked for reassurance about the freehold ownership of the site and an assurance that other schools would not suffer because of the significant cost of keeping Culverhay open.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson made an ad hoc statement endorsing the views of previous speakers.  She observed that she had heard assurances that the freehold of the site would remain with the Council.  She felt that the Council should ask the Secretary of State to announce his decision as soon as possible so that parents could make their decisions about 2012 fully informed of the facts.

Councillor Nathan Hartley, in proposing the item, observed that the proposal being considered by Cabinet was the result of a long campaign to save Culverhay School.  Many people had worked hard to get to this point.  He thanked Ashley Ayre (Strategic Director, People) and Tony Parker (Divisional Director Learning and Inclusion Service) for the hard work they had undertaken in the last few months.  He explained that during the consultation period, negative submissions had been received from one B&NES Councillor (out of 65), 3 Head Teachers (out of 70+ and only 2 Chairs of Governors (out of 70+). He emphasised that the correct legal process had been followed to get to the current point.

In response to Councillor Eleanor Jackson’s reference to the Secretary of State, Councillor Hartley said that the Council had been determined to allow the Secretary of State to make up his own mind on the options available.  He observed that the Liberal Democrat Group had for 20 years said that Culverhay should be allowed to become co-educational, and had this been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80