Agenda item

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 less affluent homes performed better in community schools.

Councillor Nathan Hartley made a statement in which he expressed amazement that after 66% of parents had supported the original proposals for one school in the north and one in the south of the city, the Cabinet were now proposing that all the provision would be in the north of the city.

Councillor Dine Romero said that the proposals were basically flawed because they had not been based on any of the options consulted on.  She pointed out that the closure of Culverhay would increase car travel across the city.  She reminded Cabinet that Culverhay had a good OFSTED report and that it had been recognised as the highest value-added school in the country.  Closing Culverhay would deliver nothing positive for the community south of the city.

Councillor Andy Furse made a statement objecting to the proposal to close Culverhay School because it did not acknowledge the increased traffic and transport implications; did not reflect the lower maintenance backlog compared to the other schools being reviewed; and did not recognise the community issues at stake.  He appealed to the Cabinet to think again.

Gaynor Williams made a statement supporting the proposals that Oldfield School should become coeducational.  She asked the Cabinet to work with the parents of Weston and surrounding areas to encourage the Head of Oldfield to embrace coeducational status.

Martin Powell (CoEd Oldfield Group) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 9] in which he said that he and other parents had contacted the Head of Culverhay School to try to find ways they could work together.  He appealed to the Cabinet to support the provision of coeducational education at Oldfield School.

Andy Lenthall (CoEd Oldfield Group) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 10] supporting the provision of coeducational education at Oldfield School.

Hilary Fraser expressed her sadness that the Cabinet appeared to be in such a rush to make the decision - she felt that the proposals were shoddy.  Her view was that St Marks should close and should merge with Culverhay, which she felt would prove to be a successful collaboration.

Jamie Luck (ex-pupil of Culverhay School) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 11] in which he emphasised the importance of Culverhay School to its community; the dangers of estranging large numbers of young men by removing the supportive environment from which they currently benefit; and the social and economic cost of making the wrong decision.

Sarah Wall made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 12] in which she said she felt that the community around Culverhay School had been deceived and cheated because the consultation had not mentioned the possibility now being considered by Cabinet.  She appealed to the Cabinet not to move towards closure of Culverhay.

Jane Parsons (Manager, Southdown/Whiteway Church & Community Partnership) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 13] emphasising the needs of the area around Culverhay.  She spoke warmly of the trust built up by the school over many years and its pivotal place in the community.  She felt it would be a disgrace to close the school and appealed to the Cabinet to allow Culverhay to become a coeducational school, as had been promised for so many years.

Joanne Bond made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 14] in which she referred to the wide spectrum of activities and courses for adults and children which took place at Culverhay School.  She felt that to lose Culverhay would be a devastating blow to the community and asked the Cabinet to keep the school open.

Richard Thompson (Head, Culverhay School) made a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 15] who had been in post for less than a year but who had already become convinced of the unique ethos and character of the school.  He believed the rationale for closure was weak and felt that Culverhay should be retained as part of the schools provision for Bath.

Councillor Gerry Curran (Chair of Governors, Culverhay School) made a statement in which he reminded the Cabinet that the Governors of Culverhay had campaigned for coeducational status for 15 years and had been promised that this was the intention once Oldfield school was persuaded to become coeducational.  Now that this was happening, the Cabinet were considering breaking the long-standing promise.  He reminded the Cabinet of Culverhay's excellent record at collaboration; its invaluable service to the community; and that it had been acknowledged in 2008 to be the most successful value-added school in the country.  He appealed to the Cabinet to reconsider the issues and not to close the school.

Councillor Chris Watt introduced the report by saying that the Council had a responsibility to deliver the best education for all the children of Bath.  To ensure this, it was necessary to set aside narrow interests.  He reminded the Cabinet that the Council had been at the point of resolving its spare places problem before, and had hesitated at the critical moment.  He referred to the consultation which showed that parents recognised the need to lose school places in Bath and that this involved the loss of one school.  He pointed out that only a third of parents of children at Culverhay had chosen that school as their first choice.  He recommended that Cabinet members adopt the proposals.

Councillor Terry Gazzard seconded the proposals.  He told the meeting that the Cabinet had discussed this issue more than any other issue he had been involved in.  There was an opportunity to place every child in an outstanding school – and he felt the Cabinet should take that opportunity.

Councillor Vic Pritchard asked if Councillor Watt had considered alternative uses for the Culverhay site, should the proposals be adopted.

Councillor Watt said that he would instruct officers to consider the options for the site, subject to the results of the statutory consultation process.

Councillor Charles Gerrish referred to the Bath Primary School Review and recalled that there had been discussions about a possible merger between Southdown Infant and Junior Schools.  He asked whether Councillor Watt had considered whether any receipt from the closure of Culverhay School might be used to deliver improvements to primary education in Southdown.

Councillor Watt assured the Cabinet that all capital receipts were retained in the schools estate.  The funds would be used to secure coeducational education in Oldfield School; provision of 6^th Form facilities at St Mark's and St Gregory's after federation; and the remaining funds would be reinvested at the two Southdown primary schools.

Councillor Francine Haeberling observed that such decisions were never easy to make but she felt that the Cabinet must take the remaining opportunity to resolve the structural overprovision of secondary places in Bath.

Councillor Watt emphasised to the meeting that the decision being taken was not about saving money; it was about using the available funds wisely to improve education in the city.  He pointed out that the proposal before Cabinet was to consult on the closure of Culverhay School, and if agreed that statutory consultation would take place in the autumn.  He thanked all those who had attended to make their views known to Cabinet.

On a motion from Councillor Chris Watt, seconded by Councillor Terry Gazzard it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To SUPPORT the proposed federation of St Mark's C of E school on its current site with St Gregory's Catholic College, with joint Post 16 provision for both schools. Invite the two schools to proceed with this hard federation so that it is in place for 1 September 2011;

(2) To SUPPORT Oldfield school in seeking to become a co-educational academy and obtain written confirmation from the Head and the Governing Body by Friday 17 September 2010 that co-educational status has been included in the school's Application to Convert to an Academy sent to the Secretary of State, with the intention that it will become a co-educational academy by 1 September 2012;

(3) That if written confirmation that co-educational status has been included in Oldfield school's Application to convert to an Academy by Wednesday 1 September 2012 is not received by Friday 17 September 2010 the LA to commence a competition to invite proposers to submit bids for a new 160 place co-educational 11-18 school on the existing Oldfield school site and to propose the closure of Oldfield school and the opening of a new co-educational school on 1 September 2012;

(4) To CONSULT on the proposal to close Culverhay school.