The report proposes to initiate consultations on the phased closure of the Community Schools of Brewers Hill Middle School and Streetfield Middle School and the Church of England Voluntary Aided School of Ashton Middle School from September 2015, with full closure from August 2016.  This is as a consequence of the changing pattern of provision in the area, which has an impact on the future viability of all 3 schools.

1.         That the initiation of a consultation to close Brewers Hill Community Middle School in Dunstable be approved, phased from September 2015, with final implementation in August 2016.

2.         That the initiation of a consultation to close Ashton Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School in Dunstable be approved, phased from September 2015, with final implementation in August 2016.

3.         That the initiation of a consultation to close Streetfield Community Middle School in Dunstable be approved, phased from September 2015, with final implementation in August 2016.

4.         To receive a report providing the responses to each consultation at the Council’s Executive on 27 May 2014, to enable a decision to be made on whether to proceed to the publication of statutory notices for each school, with a view to receiving a final report and making final decisions at the Council’s Executive on 19 August 2014.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that proposed to initiate consultations on the phased closure of the Community Schools of Brewers Hill Middle School and Streetfield Middle School and the Church of England Voluntary Aided School of Ashton Middle School from September 2015, with full closure from August 2016.  This was due to the analysis indicating that all three schools would not be financially viable in the future following the age range changes to other schools within the town. 

The Chairman of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised Members that the Committee would be holding a public meeting in the evening in Dunstable at the beginning of May to consider the results of the public consultation before making recommendations to the Executive.

In response to questions, the Executive Member for Children’s Services explained that action needed to be taken as pupil numbers were likely to drop at these school which meant that pupil funding would be reduced leaving the schools unviable.  The Executive would consider the findings from the public consultation process at its meeting on 27 May 2014 before taking any further action.

Reason for decision:  To ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory obligations to provide sufficient school places and also to meet the legal requirements placed on the Council by The School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 regarding proposals to close the three maintained schools as set out in the report.  Final approval of the proposals will be determined by the Executive on 19 August 2014, informed by the outcome of the consultation exercises.  The Council’s Executive is required to make its decision within 2 months of the end of the consultation period.

RESOLVED

1.      that the initiation of a consultation to close Brewers Hill Community Middle School in Dunstable be approved, phased from September 2015, with final implementation in August 2016;

2.      that the initiation of a consultation to close Ashton Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School in Dunstable be approved, phased from September 2015, with final implementation in August 2016;

3.      that the initiation of a consultation to close Streetfield Community Middle School in Dunstable be approved, phased from September 2015, with final implementation in August 2016; and

4.      to receive a report providing the responses to each consultation at the Council’s Executive on 27 May 2014, to enable a decision to be made on whether to proceed to the publication of statutory notices for each school, with a view to receiving a final report and making final decisions at the Council’s Executive on 19 August 2014.